The father of the late world marathon record holder Kelvin Kiptum has called for an investigation into his son’s death, after claiming four unidentified people came looking for him days before his fatal car accident.
Kiptum, 24, died Sunday in a car accident in his native Kenya, which also killed his Rwandan coach, Gervais Hakizimana.
The Kenyan long-distance runner’s death occurred just five days after World Athletics ratified his world record of 2:00.35, which he set when winning the Chicago Marathon.
Kiptum’s father, Samson Cheruiyot, has called for an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his son’s death.
He told Kenya Citizen television that a group of four people had searched for Kiptum four days before the car accident.
Kelvin Kiptum’s father, Samson Cheruiyot, called for an investigation into his son’s death.
Cheruiyot told Kenyan media that four people came looking for Kiptum four days before his death.
Kiptum (left) and his trainer Gervais Hakizimana (right) died in a traffic accident on Sunday night.
“There are people who returned home a while ago who were looking for Kiptum but refused to identify themselves,” Cheruiyot said.
‘I asked them to show me identification, but they chose to leave.
“It was a group of four people.”
Cheruiyot revealed that she first learned about her son’s death while watching the news.
He added that he last spoke to his son last Sunday, when the 24-year-old was aiming to break the sub-two-hour mark in the marathon, in addition to building a new home for the family.
“I received the news of my son’s death while watching the news,” Cheruiyot said.
‘I went to the accident site but the police had taken the body to Eldoret.
‘He told me that someone would come and help us build a house. She said that her body is now in shape and she can now run 1:59.
‘Kiptum was my only son. He has left me, his mother and his children. I don’t have another child. His mother was sick for a while. “At this moment I am deeply saddened.”
Kiptum made history last October when he clocked 2:00.35 to win the Chicago Marathon.
New images reveal the extent of the damage suffered by Kitptum’s Toyota Premio
The vehicle’s roof was torn off after Kitptum’s car crashed into a tree on Sunday.
Kiptum is said to have lost control of his vehicle in the Kaptagat area along the Eldama-Eldoret ravine while returning from Eldoret in Uasin Gishu county.
The car was removed from the accident scene on Sunday and taken to a police station.
Kiptum and his coach Hakizimana died in the accident on Sunday in Kaptagat, an area of southwestern Kenya known as a training base for long-distance runners.
Details of the accident were revealed on Monday, and a passenger, Sharon Chepkemoi, 32, survived the incident after being taken to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret.
According to Kenneth Kimaiyo, one of the first responders at the crash site, via NationKiptum’s body was found under the vehicle with the runner already dead and Hakizimana still alive on a hill.
The newspaper adds that Kiptum, a father of two and son of a runner and volleyball player, lost control of his vehicle and crashed into a large tree in the Kaptagat area, along the Eldama-Eldoret ravine.
Kiptum was returning from Eldoret in Uasin Gishu County.
Jackson Tuwei, president of Athletics Kenya, said the vehicle veered off the road into a ditch before hitting a large tree 60 meters from the main road.
Tuwei said the bodies were taken to hospital for an autopsy that will begin after the families have been informed and “all arrangements have been made.”
It added that the accident occurred at 20:00 GMT on Sunday, 23:00 local time, and that the vehicle suffered “serious damage” and was towed to a local police station for “inspection and further police measures.”
Mourners gathered to pay their respects to Kiptum following his death on Sunday.
Fellow runners and the public were somber after seeing Kiptum’s body.
Double Olympic champion Faith Kipyegon was photographed crying in the racecourse morgue
A woman was seen being carried away after seeing Kiptum’s body at the morgue.
Mourners have gathered to pay tribute to Kiptum at the crash site.
The public visited the accident site on Monday to pay tribute to the late star.
Other Kenyan long-distance stars were also photographed after seeing Kiptum’s body at the racecourse mortuary in the Rift Valley town of Eldoret.
Faith Kipyegon, double Olympic champion in the women’s 1,500m, was photographed crying after seeing Kiptum’s body.
A woman was photographed being carried out of the morgue.
New images have also been released showing the extent of the damage suffered by the sportsman’s Toyota Premio.
Four-time Olympic champion Mister Mo Farah is among those who paid tribute to Kiptum, describing him as a “special talent”.
“I am very saddened to hear of the passing of Kelvin Kiptum and his coach, Gervais Hakizimana. Kelvin was an incredibly talented athlete and had already achieved so much,” Farah wrote on social media.
“He truly was a special talent and I have no doubt he would have had an incredible career.”
“I send all my condolences and condolences to his and Gervais’ family and friends at this tragic time.”
World Athletics president Seb Coe led tributes to the 24-year-old on social media.
Former world record holder Kipchoge joined the tributes to Kiptum following his tragic death.
World Athletics president Seb Coe led tributes to Kiptum on Sunday night, saying he was “an incredible athlete who leaves an incredible legacy.”
He wrote in X: “We are shocked and deeply saddened to learn of the devastating loss of Kelvin Kiptum and his coach, Gervais Hakizimana.
‘On behalf of all of World Athletics we send our deepest condolences to their families, friends, teammates and the nation of Kenya.
‘It wasn’t until earlier this week in Chicago, the place where Kelvin set his extraordinary marathon world record, that I was able to officially ratify his historic time.
“An incredible athlete who leaves an incredible legacy, he will be greatly missed.”
Former world record holder Kipchoge, who would have likely fought Kiptum for Olympic gold in Paris 2024, joined the tributes.
“I am deeply saddened by the tragic passing of world marathon record holder and rising star Kelvin Kiptum,” Kipchoge wrote in X.
‘An athlete who had a whole life ahead of him to achieve incredible greatness.
‘I offer my deepest condolences to his young family. May God comfort you during his difficult time.’