Kiptum's car was not damaged before the accident.

According to Elgeyo Marakwet District Police Chief Peter Mulinge, preliminary inspections conducted on February 12 and 13 showed that Kiptum’s Toyota Premio did not have any signs of abnormality or damage before the accident.

"The inspectors said there were no signs of mechanical problems before the accident. That basically means the car still had good brakes, tires, lights, everything mechanically was fine," Mulinge told Nation Sport on February 13 .

Kiptum's mangled car was towed from the scene by police and taken to the police station. Photo: Reuters — Kiptum's mangled car was towed from the scene by police and taken to the police station. Photo: *Reuters*

At around 11pm Nairobi time on 11 February, Kiptum was driving a Toyota Premio carrying two people, coach Garvais Hakizimana and a woman named Sharon Kosgey. The car crashed near Flax Centre in the Kaptagat area along the Eldoret-Ravine road from Eldoret. Kiptum is said to have lost control of the car, causing it to plunge into a ditch about 60 metres away, before hitting a large tree. Runner, 24, and Hakizimana died on the spot, while Kosgei was injured and taken to the emergency room.

Despite the preliminary examination of the vehicle, Kenyan police are continuing to work with the Transport Safety Bureau and Kenya Roads Authority to look into other aspects of the accident. "Investigators are looking at the terrain of the area and the road conditions, as well as taking a closer look at the mechanical condition of the vehicle," a team leader told Nation Sport .

Kiptum and coach Hakizimana watched the match between Man Utd and Aston Villa in the 24th round of the Premier League in Eldoret on the evening of February 11. After that, they went to Small Town Chepkorio along Eldoret Ravine to watch the final match of the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) between Ivory Coast and Nigeria with a friend who was waiting there. According to Nation Sport , Kiptum may have driven at high speed to get to Small Town Chepkorio in time to watch the continental championship match.

Kosgey, the sole survivor of the crash, was in the back seat and suffered only soft tissue injuries. Police said she had stitches on her head and a bruise on her arm and was in stable condition.

The car is at the police station for inspection by experts. Photo:

On social media, Kiptum's family called for "a halt to the spread of speculation and misinformation" as they mourned the sudden passing of the world marathon record holder. The family said social media users were spreading messages that could cause hatred in the local community and were adding to the family's grief.

Kiptum's uncle, Philip Kiplagat, urged the public to wait for the police's conclusion on the accident. The family will appoint a spokesperson to speak to the media on their behalf.

Hong Duy

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