Kelvin Kiptum's father calls for an investigation into the marathon world record holder's death after claiming “four people came looking for him” days before his fatal car crash

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 in a car crash in his native Kenya on Sunday, which also killed his Rwandan coach Gervais Hakizimana.

The Kenyan long-distance runner's death came just five days after World Athletics ratified his world record time of 2:35, which he set when winning the Chicago Marathon.

Kiptum's father, Samson Cheruiyot, has now called for an investigation into the circumstances of his son's death.

He told Kenya's Citizen TV that a group of four people searched for Kiptum four days before the car accident.

“There are people who returned home some time ago and were looking for Kiptum, but they refused to identify themselves,” said Cheruiyot.

“I asked them to provide identification, but they chose to leave.

'It was a group of four people.'

Cheruiyot revealed that she heard about her son for the first time

death while watching the news.

“I received the news of my son’s death while watching the news,” said Cheruiyot.

“I went to the scene of the accident, but the police took the body to Eldoret.

'He told me someone would come and help us build a house. He said his body is now in good shape and he can now run 1:59.

'Kiptum was my only son. He 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 sad.'

Kiptum and his coach Hakizimana died in the accident in Kaptagat on Sunday, an area in southwestern Kenya known as a training base for long-distance runners.

Details of the accident were revealed on Monday, with a 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 scene of the accident – ​​via Nation, Kiptum's body was found under the vehicle with the racer 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 the 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 left the road and fell into a ditch before crashing into a large tree 60 meters from the main road.

Source: www.lindaikejisblog.com