Kenyan athlete among six casualties in grisly road accident

Kenyan athlete among six casualties in grisly road accident

The athletics world has been thrown into mourning after  Kenyan road racer  Francis Kiplagat Lagat was among those who perished in a grisly road accident on Monday night, around 11 pm at Kikopey area, along with the Eldoret-Nakuru Highway.

The accident which involved a North Rift matatu and a lorry claimed six lives, among them, the athlete, who was on his way back to Eldoret from Nairobi.

Confirming the development, Julius Ndegwa, the organising secretary of the Professional Athletes Association of Kenya(PAAK) said: “It’s true we have lost Kiplagat. They had come to Nairobi to get their visas… as they were heading Eldoret, the accident occurred at Kikopey area, a few kilometres past Gilgil,”he said.

Lagat is seen here competing in one of the Road Races abroad.IMAGE/COURTESY/Sporttroj

Prior to his death, the 27-year-old had competed in several road races abroad.

Former marathon record holder and two-time Berlin Marathon winner, Patrick Makau, a close friend of the deceased mourned:”Pole sana my friend Francis Kiplagat.I do not believe that you’ve left us.May you rest in peace.”

The horrific accident saw two people die on the spot, three while undergoing treatment at St Marys Mission Hospital and one  while undergoing treatment at the Nakuru Level-Five Hospital early Tuesday.

Gilgil OCPD Sarah Koki said that after the accident occurred, all the casualties were taken to St Mary’s hospital before they were later referred to Nakuru Level-Five Hospital.

She said that the accident involved an eleven sitter North rift Shuttle matatu, six Lorries and a small parastatal vehicle.

“All the vehicles were headed towards Nakuru from Eldoret when the matatu was hit from behind causing a pile-up collusion,“she said.

At NakuruLevel-Five Hospital, four survivors are nursing injuries while one has been transferred to Mediheal Hospital. All the vehicles involved in the accident are currently at Gilgil Police Station.

Koki said that the accident occurred after one lorry developed brake failure and as a result, it hit the matatu from the rear thus the smash-up.

Lagat cools off after a race.PHOTO/COURTESY PAP/Piotr

The police boss called on drivers to be extra careful especially at night.

Report by Simon Ngure and Charity Wanja

 

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Kenyan athlete along Nairobi-Nkauru Highway dies in grisly road accident Francis Kiplagat Lagat

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