St. Louis man pleads guilty in 2022 hit-and-run accident that killed teenager near Ted Drewes

ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - A St. Louis man has pleaded guilty Friday in regards to 2022 hit-and-run accident that killed a teenager who was walking to Ted Drewes Frozen Custard in the 6700 block of Chippewa Street.

Jacob R. Adler, 27, pleaded guilty Friday to leaving the scene of an accident that resulting in the death of 17-year-old Matthew Nikolai in 2022. Adler also pleaded guilty to tampering with physical evidence in the commission of a felony for trying to conceal the damage to his truck resulting from the accident.

As part of the plea agreement, Adler will serve five years for leaving the scene of an accident and four years concurrently for the tampering conviction, pursuant to a state statute that would allow him to serve 120 days “shock time” in the Missouri Department of Corrections separated from the general population.

Towards the end of the 120-day period, the Department of Corrections will send a report on his behavior to the Court with a recommendation on whether Adler should be released on probation or serve his sentence.

In July 2022, Nikolai was struck by Adler's gray 2006 Ford F-150 as Nikolai and his family were crossing Chippewa walking toward Ted Drewes. The impact caused Nikolai to fall into the eastbound lane of Chippewa, where another vehicle struck him. Nikolai died of his injuries.

Adler left the scene without reporting the accident to police, then two days later Adler took his truck to a body shop to have the damage repaired, in an attempt to conceal evidence of his crime.

Before he was sentenced, Adler did express his remorse in a courtroom packed with Nikolai’s family and friends.