Just found out about this, gone too young... thanks for the amazing races and memories Kelvin. RIP
LRC note: We changed the thread title. It was started when people weren't sure if he had died and it was entitled, "Rip Kelvin Kiptum??"
Just found out about this, gone too young... thanks for the amazing races and memories Kelvin. RIP
This is absolutely tragic, and it's certainly not the first death or serious injury from a car accident in a top Kenyan athlete. Just looked up the stats, and there are ~40 times more traffic-related deaths per car in Kenya than in the US. Too many tragedies, and this won't be one soon forgotten.
RIP Champ.
Crazy that Prefontaine, wanjiru and kiptum all died at age 24. Obviously a coincidence but 24 seems to be for distance running what 27 is for rock music (Morrison, Cobain, hendricks).
BREAKING NEWS: World Marathon record holder Kelvin Kiptum dies in a road accident. reporting - Citizen TV Kenya
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Very sad news. He had his whole life ahead of him.
Everyone goes home devastated today
Such a sad day in running. He was the beginning of a new era in distance running. The excitement around what he was capable of was truly mesmerising, a lot like when Bolt first took the sprinting world by storm.
X6 super senior wrote:
Everyone goes home devastated today
If there was ever a time/day that this word was used aptly, it is today. You nailed it!
We are all devastated. The sport has lost in a lot of ways.
RIP KK
He would have been remembered forever as the first sub 2 marathoner 💔
In my head he always will be.
Whoever does get it. They were #2, really.
Uhhhhhh wrote:
horrible if true…
wtf I still can't believe this. RIP =(
Driving a car is one of the most dangerous activities a man can do. and the strange thing is that we are never quite aware of this. in other words it is as if we had a weapon always pointed at us. Death could be Always around the corner. Than if we go fast everything becomes horribly and exponentially more Dangerous but we feel safe sitting in our beautiful and comfortable cars. I'm a courier, I'm on the road 10 hours a day and prudence and attention are never enough. This should be our mantra.
Mocazilla wrote:
Lots of questions (respectfully) - RIP
1. Why was he driving so late at night, given his heavy training schedule (I assume they sleep early and get up early)
2. Why was he driving in the first place
3. Was this a driver or mechanical error? What are the conditions of the roads in Kenya (dirt and hilly, I presume?)
The roads are fine as most of them are new (especially in the rural areas)
It may be mechanical but i doubt that as his car was new( it had the latest plates)
Isht just happens sometimes
Perhaps the lady who survived the accident will shed more light once the police investigation is completed
Unfortunately it's true as it was reported in the French reputable sports daily "L'équipe"
There was also a female athlete in the car by the name of kosgey who escaped with serious injuries.
you must enter a username wrote:
RIP KK
He would have been remembered forever as the first sub 2 marathoner 💔
In my head he always will be.
Whoever does get it. They were #2, really.
This is INCORRECT. Please let us not fall victim to falsehoods.
Alleged OB at the police station
Walter Koech ELEGYO MARAKWET COUNTY,
KEIYO SOUTH SUB-COUNTY,
KAPTAGAT POLICE STATION(.)
SUBJECT:SELF-INVOLVED FATAL ROAD TRAFFIC ACCIDENT.
My OB. NO.19 /11/02/2024 at 2317hrs refers.
Occurred today 11/02/2024 at about 2300HRS at Kaptagat Forest area along Eldoret -Ravine road . It happened that one Kelvin Kiptum - The Chicago Marathon World Record Holder was driving his m/vehicle reg. number KDL 566F Toyota Premio carrying two passengers namely Gervais Hakizimana Rwanda male adult aged 37yrs-his coach and Sharon Chepkurui Kosgei Keiyo/f/adult aged 24yrs from Eldoret heading towards Ravine. Upon reaching the location of the accident, he lost control and veered off-road entering into a ditch on his left side. He drove in the ditch for about 60metres before hitting a big tree. As a result Kelvin Kiptum and Gervais Hakizimana died on the spot wheras Sharon Chepkurui Kosgei escaped with serious injuries and was rushed to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital for treatment. The two bodies were moved to Racecourse Hospital Mortuary in Eldoret awaiting autopsy. Scene visited and processed. The extensively damaged m/vehicle towed to Kaptagat Police Station awaiting inspection and further police action. Cause code 26 used . Case P.U.I.Further report to follow.
Tragic. I find it a bit strange though for a world record holder and his coach to be driving somewhere at 11PM.
Geoffrey Kamworor at the scene.