Hearings scheduled for man involved in hit-and-run fatality in 2022

ST. LOUIS – A sentencing hearing is scheduled for Friday morning in a hit-and-run case that killed a high school student in 2022.

Jacob Adler is accused of “leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death” and “tampering with evidence.”

In July 2022, 17-year-old Matthew Nikolai was struck and killed while crossing Chippewa Street near Ted Drewes Frozen Custard. A pickup truck struck the CBC High School student first, causing him to be thrown into the path of another car that also struck him.

The second driver stopped and cooperated with police. The suspect affidavit states that Adler stopped, got out of his pickup truck and walked to the crime scene without identifying himself. He then drove away.

Prosecutors also alleged that Adler took his truck to a repair shop the day after the fatal accident to cover up the damage.

When police posted pictures of the truck online, the manager of the body shop contacted police and the truck was taken as evidence.

Adler turned himself in to the police the following week.

There have been several delays in the trial of this case. The guilty plea hearing is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Friday morning at the Carahan Courthouse, followed immediately by a sentencing hearing.