Driver Dolars Aleksanders who killed Keaton Slater before fleeing to Latvia to be sentenced
A 12-year-old Coventry pupil, Keaton Slater, was killed in June 2024 when a BMW driven at more than 70 mph struck him; the driver, Aleksanders Dolars, fled to Latvia and was extradited back to the UK in August, where he pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving. The case at Warwick Crown Court revealed the car was speeding well above the limit on a 30 mph road, prompting a distressing public CCTV showing the collision. Dolars faced sentencing, with his attendance compelled by the court after earlier reluctance, while Keaton’s family expressed grief and anger at the driver’s actions. The proceedings underscore ongoing legal reforms to require offenders to attend sentencing, set to take effect next year, and follow a high-profile campaign by Keaton’s relatives for justice.
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Keaton Slater was a 12-year-old from Coventry who loved football and was described by his mother as funny, caring and full of life; he was walking home from school when he was struck.
The incident occurred on Radford Road in Coventry, with the BMW traveling at more than 70 mph on a 30 mph street; the car knocked Keaton into the air and into nearby parked vehicles before fleeing the scene.
Aleksanders Dolars, a 23-year-old Latvian, admitted causing death by dangerous driving; prosecutors noted the driver initially avoided court appearances but was later compelled to attend and was extradited from Latvia in August.
CCTV footage of the collision was shown in court, and Keaton’s family watched with distress as the details were laid out; his mother Louise Slater gave a moving statement describing the family’s grief and asking how anyone could leave a struck child.
During proceedings, the court clarified Dolars’s name (Aleksanders Dolars) and noted the extradition and confirmation through Latvian officials; the sentencing hearing was ongoing with the judge insisting on his presence in person.
The case has been linked to broader legal changes designed to compel offenders to attend sentencing hearings, though those measures are not due to take effect until next year, while existing laws already require attendance or risk penalties.