World 400M Hurdles Champion Nicholas Bett Dies in a Car Crash
World 400 metres hurdles champion Nicholas Bett passed on in a road crash on Wednesday morning.
The 28-year-old died on the spot after he lost control of the vehicle he was driving and veered off the road near Lessos shopping centre along the Eldoret-Kapsabet road.
Confirming the accident, Nandi Police Commander Patrick Wambani said the athlete hit a bump before veering off the road and landing in a ditch.
Bett, who was part of Kenyan team that finished position one overall in the just-concluded African Athletics Championships in Asaba, Nigeria, was traveling to Nairobi when the crash happened.
Bett became the first Kenyan athlete to scoop a world title in sprints registering 47.79 seconds at the 2015 IAAF World Championships in Beijing, China. He also broke the previous world record that stood at 48.24 seconds.
"Deeply saddened by the death of former 400m hurdles World Champion Nicholas Bett who died today in a tragic road accident. Bett earned the country great honours in his outstanding victories. My deepest sympathies and heartfelt condolences to his family, relatives and friends," President Uhuru Kenyatta said in a tweet on Wednesday.
Comments (5)
Sad 😢 indeed 🙏🏽 May he RIP 🙏🏽
May he RIP. Gone too soon. kenya needs good roads signs. I am sure the road bump that he hit prior to veneering off the road had no sign.
There are good roads in the USA and accidents are littered all over.
I one day faced some Traffic Police lady telling her that the Huge road Bump (She was Manning) was Dangerous and needed to be Painted stripes (Black and White) to Warn drivers and avoid impending Danger on the Highway. She gave me some disgusting Superior look: But my Request was later Honored; and the Bump Painted to Warn drivers. Thank God!
Poleni sana