Driver jailed for killing boy, 12, in hit-and-run after fleeing UK

Summarised from 3 outlets · 5 reports · Updated 14 Nov, 08:57 · Archive

A 23-year-old driver has been jailed for nine years and four months after killing a 12-year-old boy in a high-speed hit-and-run in Coventry.

A driver has been jailed for nine years and four months after killing a 12-year-old boy in a high-speed hit-and-run. Aleksanders Dolars, 23, struck Keaton Slater with his BMW on Radford Road, Coventry, on 14 June 2024 as the boy walked home from school. Dolars was travelling at speeds of up to 76mph in a 30mph zone. A witness heard someone in the car shout 'go, go, go' after the collision.

Dolars did not stop to help. He drove for approximately 20 minutes before abandoning the vehicle roughly six miles away and walking away from the scene. The judge said his speed made the collision unavoidable. Keaton sustained fatal injuries and could not be saved by emergency services.

Dolars fled to Latvia, prompting West Midlands Police, the Crown Prosecution Service, National Crime Agency and other authorities to pursue his arrest. Following a new extradition agreement between the UK and Latvia, he was flown into Gatwick Airport in August and taken into custody. He was extradited back to the UK to face justice and pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving.

At Warwick Crown Court on Friday, Dolars was sentenced to nine years and four months in prison and banned from driving for 16 years and one month. Keaton's mother Louise told the court that her son was funny, caring, loving and full of life, with 'the biggest smile and a heart full of kindness'. She said: 'The day Keaton was killed was the day our family stopped being whole.' She added: 'There are no words that can properly describe the pain of losing a child. It is heartbreak that never leaves you.'

How it is being reported

• Moment Midlands hit-and-run driver sped at 70mph before killing 12-year-old boyAleksanders Dolars has been jailed for nine years and four months after admitting causing death by dangerous driving when he struck Keaton Slater in Coventry on June 14 2024 while travelling at 70mph in a 30mph zoneBirminghamLive · 14 Nov, 08:35
• Coventry driver jailed for killing boy, 12, in 75mph hit-and-run as 'go, go' was shoutedAleksanders Dolars, 23, was jailed for nine years and four months after pleading guilty to causing death by dangerous driving after killing 12-year-old Keaton Slater in CoventryBirminghamLive · 14 Nov, 08:27
• Watch: Arrest of speeding driver who fled UK after killing 12-year-old West Midlands boy in hit-and-run12-year-old Keaton Slater was walking home from school when he was struck by Aleksanders Dolars in Coventry in 2024.Birmingham World · 13 Nov, 18:06
• Watch: Arrest of speeding driver who fled UK after killing 12-year-old West Midlands boy in hit-and-run12-year-old Keaton Slater was walking home from school when he was struck by Aleksanders Dolars in Coventry in 2024.Express & Star · 13 Nov, 18:06
• Midlands mum will 'never understand' why BMW driver left her 'beautiful' son, 12, after hitting him at 70mphKeaton Slater was struck by a BMW as he walked home from school on June 14, 2024BirminghamLive · 13 Nov, 16:40

In this story: Aleksanders Dolars · Keaton Slater · Louise · Coventry · Latvia · West Midlands Police · Warwick Crown Court

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log