World Marathon Record Holder Dies in Devastating Car Accident

The scene of the traffic accident involving world marathon record holder Kelvin Kiptum. The vehicle is broadcasted. / Reuters·CNN

Images from the scene of the fatal traffic accident involving world marathon record holder Kelvin Kiptum (25·Kenya), who is expected to break the two-hour wall for the first time in human history, have been released in his home country.

The scene of the accident that was revealed was gruesome.

The damaged sedan was crumpled beyond recognition, giving an idea of the crash’s impact.

According to foreign media outlets such as CNN, Kiptum had a traffic accident on a road connecting Eldoret and Kaptagat, high-altitude long-distance running training grounds in Kenya, around 11 p.m. local time on the 11th.

At the time of the accident, three people were in the vehicle: Kiptum and his coach, Jervais Hakizimana, both of whom died at the scene.

It is reported that the accident occurred when Kiptum lost control of the vehicle due to his poor driving skills and crashed into a large tree after veering off the road and entering a ditch.

Born in 1999, Kiptum was the first person to complete a marathon in less than 2 hours and 1 minute. He broke the full 42.195 km course in just 2 hours and 35 seconds at the Chicago Marathon on October 8 last year. Kiptum, in his mid-twenties, was expected to achieve a record in the 1-hour range, but he left the world without fulfilling his dream.