Driver who fled to Latvia after killing schoolboy jailed

A speeding driver who fled to Latvia after killing a 12-year-old boy when he hit him at more than 70mph has been jailed. Aleksanders Dolars evaded capture for Keaton Slater's death for more than two years because there was no extradition treaty between Latvia and the UK post-Brexit. He was finally brought to justice in August this year when he was brought to England to appear at Warwick Crown Court following a determined campaign by Keaton's parents.

Dolars, 23, was jailed for nine years and four months by Judge Kristina Montgomery KC who told him: "Your selfish and dangerous driving took his life." Keaton's family said the sentence was not long enough. The court heard Dolars had been driving at 75-76mph in a 30mph zone when he struck the schoolboy in Coventry, killing him instantly. Keaton, a devoted Coventry City fan, was travelling home from school with friends on 14 June, 2024, and had just got off a bus.

He had stepped out onto Radford Road and prepared to cross but the court heard he would not have seen Dolars' BMW at that time.