A driver has been sentenced to seven and a half years in prison for killing a 15-year-old e-scooter rider while traveling at 80 mph, more than three times the speed limit. Cameron Langley-McColm was convicted of causing death by dangerous driving in the incident that occurred on July 8, 2023.
Langley-McColm was driving a white BMW Sport along Heath Road in Coxheath, Kent, when his vehicle struck Kieran Aaron Byrne. The impact threw the teenager 28 meters (approximately 90 feet) from the point of collision. Kieran was pronounced dead at the scene. A second 14-year-old boy riding with Kieran was clipped by the car but sustained no serious injuries.
Initial roadside tests for intoxication and drug use were conducted on Langley-McColm, and he passed. He was released under investigation. During a voluntary interview on July 16, 2023, Langley-McColm claimed Kieran had swerved in front of his vehicle as he attempted to overtake. However, a police investigation, including CCTV footage and witness statements, disproved this claim. Investigators determined that Langley-McColm was driving on the wrong side of the 30 mph road at nearly three times the speed limit. The investigation also confirmed that Kieran and the second boy were traveling in the correct lane and had not swerved.
Langley-McColm was charged on January 13, 2024, and subsequently sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court. In addition to the prison sentence, he received an 11-year driving ban. Detective Constable David Holmes of the Serious Collision Investigation Unit stated that the death was "tragic and completely avoidable" and that Langley-McColm had "no consideration for other road users." He emphasized that driving at excessive speeds increases the risk of death or serious injury.
Kieran Aaron Byrne was remembered by his family as a "beautiful" and "talented" schoolboy. His sister-in-law, Rachel Byrne, posted a tribute on social media expressing the family's grief and thanking the community for their support. The incident occurred around 10 p.m. on July 8, and the road was closed for over 10 hours for the investigation.
