Former Lille and Westerlo Forward Kader Keita Involved in Fatal Hit-and-Run in Romania
Ivorian forward Kader Keita, currently under contract with Romanian club Rapid București, is facing serious legal consequences after a fatal hit-and-run incident. The 24-year-old, who previously played for the reserves of Lille and had spells with Westerlo, FC Sion, Sivasspor, and CFR Cluj, is alleged to have struck a 67-year-old woman with his car in early March. The victim, who suffered multiple fractures, was placed in a medically induced coma and has since passed away in hospital. According to Romanian media, Keita fled the scene of the accident without assisting the victim.
Surveillance footage from the area was used by authorities to identify Keita, who attended his club's training session as normal the following day. He now faces charges of involuntary manslaughter and leaving the scene of an accident, which could result in a significant prison sentence, as reported by Romanian outlet România TV. The Ivorian winger, who has made 13 appearances for Rapid București this season, has not yet made a public statement regarding the incident.
Keita's career, which began in the youth academy of LOSC Lille, has taken him across Europe, with stints in Belgium, Switzerland, Turkey, and Romania. His move to Rapid București was seen as a chance to revive a career that had stalled after his early promise in France. The player, who has not been capped by the Ivory Coast at senior level, is now in police custody awaiting a formal hearing. The club has yet to issue an official statement on the matter, but Keita has been suspended from all team activities pending the outcome of the investigation.
The incident has sent shockwaves through the Romanian football community and prompted a wider discussion on player conduct off the pitch. The tragic event has overshadowed the club's season, with Rapid București currently sitting in the middle of the Romanian Liga 1 table. The legal proceedings are expected to move forward in the coming weeks, with Keita's footballing future now in serious doubt as he faces the potential of a lengthy prison sentence.
