Parents of son killed in crash welcome speed cut

Louise and Clint Slater campaigned for the road safety measures with the support of Taiwo Owatemi, MP for Coventry North West

The parents of a 12-year-old boy who was killed in a hit-and-run have said they hope new road safety measures where their son died will mean "no other family has to go through what we have".

Louise and Clint Slater's son Keaton, was fatally injured when he was struck by a BMW car on Radford Road on his way home from school in June 2024.

Coventry City Council confirmed earlier this week that changes, including reducing the road's speed limit to 20mph and adding speed bumps would be implemented, after the couple had campaigned with the support of Taiwo Owatemi, MP for Coventry North West.

"We wake up everyday like it's still a nightmare and we don't want that for anyone else", Ms Slater said.

She added that the community have come together and said it was "not on" that people are being hurt.

She believed the action had also been taken as a result of another child being seriously injured on the same road earlier this year.

"To implement this [the road safety changes] is brilliant for us."

Mr Slater said the changes demonstrated "people are listening to us now".

"I don't want anyone to be injured coming home from school," he added.

Keaton Slater, 12, was killed in a hit and run on Radford Road, Coventry

Ms Slater said the MP had been "so supportive" and credited Owatemi for helping the changes to be enforced, however, she added that the success of the measures depended on how quickly they were implemented.

Prior to the council announcing the changes, they had felt like they were "battling and battling, but nothing was happening", Ms Slater added.

"It's hard seeing his friends sitting at the bus stop where Keaton used to sit. It breaks my heart knowing he's not there with them."

Keaton's family hosted a memorial day at the ground of Coventrians RFC in July to keep his memory alive

Keaton's parents have also fought for the extradition of Dolars Aleksanders, 21, who is wanted on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and believed by police to be in Latvia.

The couple, who met with the Latvian ambassador in April, said they expected an update from Warwickshire Police in the coming days.

Dolars Aleksanders is wanted by police in connection with the hit-and-run that killed Keaton

The family hosted a memorial day at the ground of Coventrians RFC in July and have plans to make it "bigger and better" next year.

"We just want people to be safe," Mr Slater added.

He urged drivers in Coventry to "kill their speed, not a child".