Football star, 25, arrested after allegedly ‘hitting a pedestrian and driving off’
A 25-year-old footballer, who plays for a top European club, has been arrested for allegedly hitting a pedestrian at a zebra crossing before driving off
Kader Keita has been arrested(Image: JamPress)
A footballer has been arrested for allegedly hitting a pedestrian on a crossing before driving off. Kader Keita claims he checked on the 68-year-old woman and only left after she told him she felt okay.
The 25-year-old midfielder, who plays for FC Rapid București in the Romanian top flight, reportedly hit the woman in his car as she walked across a zebra crossing around 5.45am on Tuesday.
According to reports, the woman initially told paramedics that she lost her balance and fell in the street. It was only later when a doctor realised that her injuries could not have come from a simple fall that she revealed the true cause.
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The doctor immediately informed the police and they tracked down Kader as the suspected driver. The elderly woman remains under care at the Floreasca Emergency Clinical Hospital in Bucharest.
She reportedly told the police that the footballer stopped his car and offered to take her to hospital. She allegedly refused, saying she felt fine, and the player then drove away.
Kader, 25, showed up for training later the same day and did not inform the club about the accident, according to reports. He was arrested and detained for 24 hours after the Ivorian international went home from the training session, as reported by NeedToKnow.
The Rapid star could face a prison sentence of between two and seven years for not calling the police at the scene of the accident. Prosecutors must also determine whether the incident can be classified as a hit-and-run.
Rapid’s press officer, Cornelia Vlădan, confirmed that club officials are now aware of what happened, but will wait for the results of the investigation before making a decision about the player’s future.
The statement said: “The club has taken note of the information that has appeared in the public space regarding the involvement of our player, Kader Keita, in a road accident, a case that is currently under investigation by the authorities.
“We would like to emphasise that, at this moment, we are talking about an ongoing investigation, and all steps are being managed by the competent authorities.
“Until the case is fully clarified, we cannot adopt a definitive position and no disciplinary measures will be decided. The player has been urged to fully collaborate with the authorities and provide all necessary support to clarify the situation.
“The club will monitor the evolution of the case and will publicly communicate any relevant official information.” The investigation continues.
