The father of late marathon world 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 crash.
Kiptum, 24, died on Sunday in a car accident in his native Kenya, which also killed his Rwandan coach Gervais Hakizimana.
The Kenyan distance runner’s death came just five days after World Athletics confirmed his world record time 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 has 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 (L) and his coach Gervais Hakizimana (R) died in a traffic accident on Sunday evening
“There are people who came home a while ago looking for Kiptum but refused to identify themselves,” Cheruiyot said.
‘I asked them to identify themselves, but they chose to leave.
“It was a group of four.”
Cheruiyot revealed that he first heard about his son’s death while watching the news.
He added that he last spoke to his son last Sunday, where the 24-year-old wanted to break the sub-two-hour marathon and build a new home for the family.
“I got the news of my son’s death while watching the news,” Cheruiyot said.
“I went to the scene of the accident but the police had taken the body to Eldoret.
‘He told me that someone would come and help us build a house. He said his body is fit now and he can now run 1:59.
‘Kiptum was my only child. He left me, his mother and his children. I don’t have another child. His mother was ill 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 have revealed the extent of the damage to Kitptum’s Toyota Premio
The roof of the vehicle was ripped off after Kitptum’s car crashed into a tree on Sunday
It is said that Kiptum lost control of his vehicle at the Kaptagat area along the Eldama Ravine-Eldoret on his way back from Eldoret in Uasin Gishu County
The car was towed from the scene of the accident on Sunday and taken to a police station
Kiptum and his coach Hakizimana died on Sunday in the crash in Kaptagat, an area in southwestern Kenya known as a training base for distance runners.
Details of the crash were revealed on Monday, with a female passenger, Sharon Chepkemoi, 32, surviving 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 while the runner was already dead and Hakizimana was 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 Ravine-Eldoret.
Kiptum was on his way back from Eldoret in Uasin Gishu province.
Athletics Kenya president Jackson Tuwei said the vehicle veered off the road into a ditch before hitting a large tree 60 meters off the main road.
Tuwei said the bodies have been taken to hospital for an autopsy, which will begin after the families have been informed and “all arrangements have been made.”
He added that the accident occurred at 8:00 PM GMT, 11:00 PM local time, on Sunday and that the vehicle was “extensively damaged” and was towed to a local police station for “inspection and further police action.”
Mourners gathered to pay their respects to Kiptum after his death on Sunday
Fellow runners and the public were somber after seeing Kiptum’s body
Double Olympic champion Faith Kipyegon was pictured in tears at the Racecourse Mortuary
A woman was seen being taken away after viewing Kiptum’s body in the morgue
Mourners gathered at the scene of the accident to pay tribute to Kiptum.
The public visited the scene of the accident on Monday to pay tribute to the late star.
Fellow Kenyan long-distance stars were also pictured after viewing Kiptum’s body at the Racecourse Mortuary in the Rift Valley town of Eldoret.
Faith Kipyegon, a two-time Olympic women’s 1,500m champion, was pictured in tears after seeing Kiptum’s body.
It depicted a woman being carried away from the morgue.
New images have also been published showing the extent of the damage to the athlete’s Toyota Premio.
Four-time Olympic champion Sir Mo Farah is among those who have paid tribute to Kiptum, describing him as a ‘special talent’.
“I am so sad 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 really had a special talent and I have no doubt he would have had an incredible career.
‘I extend all my condolences and condolences to his and Gervais’ family and friends at this tragic time.’
World Athletics chairman Seb Coe led the tributes to the 24-year-old on social media
Former world record holder Kipchoge joined the tribute to Kiptum after his tragic death
World Athletics president Seb Coe led the tributes to Kiptum on Sunday evening, saying he was “an incredible athlete who leaves an incredible legacy.”
He wrote on X: “We are shocked and deeply saddened by the devastating loss of Kelvin Kiptum and his coach, Gervais Hakizimana.
“On behalf of all of World Athletics, we extend our deepest condolences to their families, friends, teammates and the Kenyan nation.
‘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, we will miss him dearly.”
Former world record holder Kipchoge, who would probably have competed with Kiptum for Olympic gold in Paris 2024, joined the tribute.
“I am deeply saddened by the tragic passing of marathon world record holder and rising star Kelvin Kiptum,” Kipchoge wrote on X.
“An athlete who had a whole life ahead of him to achieve incredible greatness.
“I extend my deepest condolences to his young family. May God comfort you in his difficult time.”