Keaton Slater: Balloons released for boy killed in hit-and-run

Dozens of balloons were released at a vigil for a 12-year-old boy who was killed in a hit-and-run accident a week ago.

Keaton Slater was crossing Radford Road in Coventry on his way home from school when he was hit by a car which police said was being driven well over the 30mph (48km/h) speed limit.

The boy was a staunch supporter of Coventry, along with the rest of his family, and many fans gathered to pay their respects and help launch the balloon.

A fundraising page set up to raise money for the family has reached £50,000 following the accident in which Keaton was hit by a black BMW at around 4.30pm BST on 14 June.

A short service was held at 7pm BST on Friday in a small section of park close to where he was killed.

The boy’s mother Louise, father Clint and siblings attended and words were spoken on their behalf before a minute’s applause.

A small rainbow appeared in the sky, causing more applause.

People in attendance were invited to wear blue in his memory.

Earlier, Father Benedict of the city’s St Augustine, who led the prayers, said he was impressed by the resilience of the Coventry community.

“Keaton was a much valued member of our Catholic community and attended St Augustine Catholic Primary School where we held a prayer vigil for him and a memorial service today and of course Cardinal Newman Catholic Secondary School. .”

A reward of up to £10,000 has been offered by a charity for information about a man hunted following the crash.

Dolars Aleksanders, 21, remained “the prime suspect in the investigation into the tragic collision”, West Midlands Police said. He is wanted on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.

Crimestoppers, which is independent of the police, said the reward was available for the next three months for information leading to the arrest of Mr Aleksanders.

The West Midlands force said it had arrested and spoken to a number of people as part of its further investigation.

He detained a 56-year-old man on Tuesday night, suspected of assisting a criminal, and a 21-year-old man was also arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.

Both men have been released on bail pending further inquiries and a third man, who was voluntarily interviewed, has been released under investigation.

A black BMW that was seized after it was found abandoned in New Arley was being forensically examined, police said.