More than 1,400 people have signed a petition to get traffic calming-measures introduced following the death of teenager Kyle Coen.

The 14-year-old (pictured left) was knocked off his bike by a hit and run driver outside Bapchild Cricket Club in London Road on July 30.

He was on his way to see his girlfriend Donna Clarke, in Teynham, at about 9.15pm when the accident happened.

Paramedics battled to save him but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

The popular teen’s death prompted married dad-of-three Leon Collins to start a campaign to get speed cameras introduced.

He is also calling for the speed limit to be reduced on the stretch of road which runs from just past the Hempstead House Hotel in Bapchild, to just before Fowler-Welch, Teynham.

Within days of the petition being placed in local shops on August 2, hundreds of people had signed it.

At the time Mr Collins said he wanted to get between 800 and 1,000 signatures before presenting it Kent County Council for consideration.

The 30-year-old, of London Road, Teynham, said: “It’s going really well.
“I plan to present it to KCC in the next few weeks.

“A lot of people say we don’t just need speed cameras we need more street lighting and cycle paths too but as I keep saying to them we need to take one step at a time. We’re not going to get everything done at once.

A group of youngsters who knew Kyle Coen releasing balloons in memory of him

“From the amount of support I’ve had though, I’m hopeful something will happen.”

It wasn’t just Kyle’s death that prompted the petition. Mr Collins says the A2 sees regular accidents and urgent action needs to be taken.

He said: “There’s been a few close calls since Kyle’s death but no real accidents, yet.”

To sign the online version visit www.change.org/en-GB and search for Kent County Council: Put speed cameras in Teynham and Bapchild and lower speed limit.

• A 27-year-old woman and 23-year-old man who were arrested in connection with Kyle’s death have been released on bail to return to a Kent police station on December 4.