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Details emerge of Kelvin Kiptum's fatal crash

Kenya's Kelvin Kiptum celebrates winning the 2023 Bank of America Chicago Marathon in Chicago, Illinois, in a world record time of two hours and 35 seconds on October 8, 2023. (Photo: Kamil Krzaczynski/ AFP)

By Mary Wambui | 12 Feb 2024

The athlete drove in the ditch for about 60 metres before hitting a big tree.

World record marathoner Kelvin Kiptum was driving his Toyota Premio from Eldoret towards Ravine at the time of the accident that killed him on Sunday night.

This is according to a police report seen by The Eastleigh Voice, which says the car had two passengers - his 37-year-old Rwandan coach Gervais Hakizimana and 24-year-old Sharon Chepkurui Kosgei Keiyo.

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Upon reaching the Kaptagat Forest area, on the Eldoret -Ravine road, he lost control and veered off-road landing in a ditch on his left side.

Chepkurui survived the accident.

The wreckage of the car driven by the late marathon world record holder on the Eldoret-Ravine road.

The report explained that the athlete drove through the ditch for about 60 metres before hitting a big tree.

"As a result, Kelvin Kiptum and Gervais Hakizimana died on the spot whereas Sharon Chepkurui Kosgei escaped with serious injuries and was rushed to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital," the report said.

The bodies were taken to the Racecourse Hospital Mortuary in Eldoret and the wreckage of the car towed to Kaptagat Police Station.

At 23, Kiptum displayed his talent in long distance running on the global stage, when he clocked 2:00:35 in the Chicago marathon. He set a world record, beating the world's greatest marathoner, Eliud Kipchoge, by 34 seconds.

The marathon that thrust him to global stardom was his third race, following two races in Valencia and London, which he won.