THE GRIEVING parents of Keaton Slater who died in a hit-and-run in Coventry last Friday have appealed for help in getting justice for their son.
Keaton was struck by a car on Radford Road around 4.30pm and police say they have been working around the clock to trace Dolars Aleksanders, 21, who is wanted on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.
A 56-year-old man was arrested on Tuesday night on suspicion of assisting an offender.
Keaton’s family – mum Louise, dad Clint, and brothers Kai, 13 and Keanu, 17, have now made a direct plea for information from the public to assist our investigation, and for the suspect to do the right thing.
Louise said: “We were a family of five and now we’re a family of four, our lives will never be the same again.
“Hearing that whoever did this will not hand themselves in has left us all feeling helpless, and we need to get justice for our Keaton.
“We just want everyone to help find who took our son, and Keanu and Kai’s little brother away from us.
“We have lost our baby boy. Please, if anyone knows anything about where they are please come forward.”
Keanu said: “I will never be able to see him joke around with us again, never be able to see him grow up to be my age.
“There are not enough words to describe what he meant to us all. A best friend, a little brother, a son and now an angel.”
Tributes have also been paid by Keaton’s school, Cardinal Newman Catholic School in Keresley.
Headteacher Emma O’Connor, said: “Although Keaton only joined the school in September last year as part of the new year seven intake, he made a significant impact on everyone he met.
“What struck you most was Keaton’s fun-loving nature which helped make him popular with students and teachers alike.
“He was a beautiful, popular student with a wonderful sense of humour and our thoughts and prayers are with his friends and family, who we know well as a school through his siblings who have also attended our school.
“Everyone at Cardinal Newman will miss him terribly, along with his incredible smile and his wonderful sense of humour.”
A 21-year-old man, detained on Tuesday on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, was bailed pending further enquiries.
Another man was previously voluntary interviewed and released under investigation.
And the black BMW involved in the crash has been seized by police who found it abandoned last Friday in New Arley. Forensic examinations are being carried out on the vehicle.
A fundraising page set up for the family has now reached almost £50,000.
Police were still trying to find Dolars Aleksanders (above).
Anyone who sees Aleksanders or knows where he is should call officers on 999 immediately.
