A driver has been sentenced to nearly 10 years in prison for a fatal hit-and-run incident in Kent last year. Albert Matraxhiu, 29, from Edgware in north London, was handed a nine-year and 10-month sentence at Maidstone Crown Court after being found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving and perverting the course of justice.

The incident occurred shortly after noon on December 29, 2025, when Matraxhiu struck 89-year-old Thomas Wallace, a retired dental surgeon, on the A289 Gads Hill in Gillingham. Authorities estimated the vehicle's speed at approximately 76.5 mph at the time of the collision. Matraxhiu was driving a grey Mercedes estate and was accompanied by his friend, Erald Paci, 30, who was seated in the front passenger seat throughout the incident.

Following the collision, Matraxhiu continued driving with Wallace’s body remaining on the roof of the car for about a mile before finally abandoning the vehicle in a rural area. The protracted concealment of evidence and failure to stop raised significant legal and public concern.

During the same hearing, Paci, of Five Ways Court in Chatham, Kent, was sentenced to 15 months in prison for perverting the course of justice. However, he was released immediately due to time already served on remand prior to sentencing.

The case drew attention to issues surrounding road safety and the legal consequences of reckless driving and subsequent actions attempting to obstruct justice. The court’s rulings reflected the serious nature of the offences and the tragic loss of life involved.