Kelvin Kiptum: Sole Survivor Recounts Tragic Accident That Claimed World Marathon Champion's Life

• The sole survivor of a car crash that killed Kelvin Kiptum has recounted her ordeal
• Sharon Chepkurui said she tried to alert the athlete as the vehicle veered off the road
• The fatal accident occurred on the Eldoret-Ravine highway on Sunday, February 11

The only survivor of the devastating crash that took the life of world marathon record-holder Kelvin Kiptum has come forward to share her harrowing experience.

Sharon Chepkurui Kosgei, aged 24, said she desperately tried to warn Kiptum as their car suddenly veered off the road late on Sunday night, February 11.

Since narrowly escaping the tragic accident at 11:17 pm, Kosgei had remained out of the public eye until Wednesday, February 14, when she provided a statement to the investigating police officers.

Recalling the events of that fatal night, Kosgei informed authorities that Kiptum, who was driving at the time, lost control of the vehicle.

Ex-Brazil star Dani Alves denies rape as trial wraps up

Football

"She told us that she saw the vehicle veering off and immediately shouted at him to return to the road. After shouting, the vehicle accelerated far off the road, landing in the ditch before hitting a wall. That was the last thing she remembers,” said the source, as quoted by The Standard.

According to her statement, Kiptum, upon realizing the deviation from the road, panicked and mistakenly accelerated instead of braking.

The lady, too traumatized to provide a statement earlier, was traced through her father, who assisted authorities in contacting her. She and Kiptum had been friends since January, watching English Premier League matches together in Eldoret town before heading to Chepkorio, where the marathon record-holder trained.

A postmortem report revealed that Kiptum's coach, Gervais Hakizimana, who also perished in the crash, succumbed to multiple head injuries, with indications that he had consumed a meal before the accident.

Nigeria vs South Africa: APC Chieftain Dies Watching Intense AFCON Semi Final

Football

Kiptum's dad calls for probe

Kiptum's father, Samson Cheruiyot, urged the government to launch a comprehensive inquiry into the circumstances surrounding his son's untimely demise.

Cheruiyot disclosed that days before the accident, four unidentified individuals visited their home inquiring about Kiptum, but they refused to provide any identification and left when pressed further.

“People who came home a while back looking for him but refused to identify themselves. I asked them to provide identification, but they left. It was a group of 4 people,” Kiptum's father said, as quoted on Citizen.

Noah Lyles consoles with Kelvin Kiptum's family

Sports Brief previously reported when World 100m and 200m champion, Noah Lyles, joined athletics fans in mourning Kiptum.

The Kenyan was expected to take on his compatriot Kipchoge at the Paris Olympics this year.

Lyles reacted to Kiptum's death by sending prayers to the family and everyone close to him.