An elderly pedestrian allegedly struck by a top-flight footballer in a “hit-and-run” has died in hospital.
Kader Keita, a midfielder for SuperLiga side Rapid București, is accused of hitting the 68-year-old woman at a pedestrian crossing in the early hours of 3 March.
She had been receiving treatment in Bucharest, Romania, after suffering fractures to her shoulder, shin and pelvis, as well as a heart attack.
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According to local reports, her condition worsened in recent days, partly due to repeated strokes.
Keita, 25, was identified through CCTV footage and later tracked down at his home, as reported by Need To Know.
He is now under investigation for manslaughter – which carries a potential prison sentence of up to seven years – and for leaving the scene of the crash.
Investigators say the impact was severe and allege Keita failed to slow down before the collision.
He is also said to have gone to training afterwards without informing authorities.
Just hours earlier, the footballer had played in an away match against Unirea Slobozia and was returning from a mosque after Ramadan prayers at the time of the incident.
Keita, who earned a cap for the Ivory Coast national team in 2024, has previously played in Turkey, Belgium, Switzerland and France.
During questioning, he said he ran from the scene because he was scared.
After spending a night in custody, he was released on bail and has since returned to playing matches.
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