U-M student a victim of fatal hit-and-run

AlphaNews has the story of the incident which occurred near campus earlier this month, under the headline:

U of M student dies after being struck by vehicle, alleged driver facing multiple charges

AlphaNews names the victim, a 20-year-old U-M student, who died several days after being struck near the intersection of Cedar and Riverside Avenues in Minneapolis.

The incident occurred the night of Thursday, November 7. The alleged driver, Ali Abas Samator, aged 30, remains in police custody in Hennepin County jail.

AlphaNews reports that Samator has been charged with felony counts of criminal vehicular homicide and DWI. Further:

According to court records, police discovered that Samator’s license was canceled, and that he had three prior alcohol related driving convictions within the last 10 years.

Searching Minnesota court records produces numerous matches to an Ali Abas Samator with a DOB of 1/1/1994. Alcohol related convictions are listed dating from 2014 and 2018.

Two felony convictions are also listed.

In 2015, Samator was convicted of 2nd-degree aggravated robbery, a felony. That incident involved a car-jacked taxicab, later crashed. He pled guilty and received a stayed sentence.

In 2016, while still on probation, Samator was convicted of another felony. That incident involved the theft of $10,000 from his employer. Another guilty plea followed, with another stayed sentence.

Probation violations eventually resulted in a short prison sentence. Fortunately, his voting rights were restored in time for the 2020 election.

Samator appears to have a number of unpaid fines and restitution orders from past cases, dating back years, outstanding.

AlphaNews reports that Samator is due back in court on December 10 and is being held on $300,000 bail.