Carter Spencer is brought to court in Regina on Thursday for sentencing. (CBC)

The man responsible for the hit-and-run death of a skateboarder was sentenced to four years and three months in prison Thursday.

Carter Spencer, 39, was convicted in the Oct. 3, 2008, death of Christopher Kniffen, 19, who was critically injured on a Regina street. He died six days later of his injuries.

Court heard that Spencer was high on drugs and drunk when the truck he was driving hit Kniffen, who was skateboarding home from work.

The case went unsolved until Spencer's 13-year-old daughter alerted police to the facts.

Christopher Kniffen, 19, was killed by a hit-and-run driver.

In earlier court proceedings, Spencer pleaded guilty to offences associated with the teen's death.

In sentencing Spencer on Thursday in Regina, Judge Ted Malone admonished the man for leaving the scene of the accident.

The sentence could not compensate Kniffen's family for their loss, Malone said.

"I can only hope that it will bring a form of closure to you for your grief," the judge said.

Speaking outside the courtroom after the sentence was handed down, members of Kniffen's family said the pain of their loss remains.

Marc Langlais, Kniffen's uncle, said a letter of apology from Spencer has been sent to the boy's mother, but she has not read it.

"It's been addressed to my sister, and it's been sealed, and she refuses to read it at this time," Langlais said. "She still can't bring herself to come to grips with his apology."

"I haven't seen it yet either," Langlais added. "I've heard about it, but I haven't seen it. [It] doesn't bring back my nephew."

Three years of Spencer's sentence were for the hit-and-run conviction and 15 months were for driving while disqualified. He was not given any credit for time spent in custody while awaiting trial.

Spencer is also prohibited from driving for 10 years after he is released from prison.