Kenyan Athlete Killed in Grisly Accident

Kenyan athlete, Francis Kiplagat Lagat, was killed in a grisly road accident that happened on Monday night at Kikopey along the Nairobi-Nakuru highway.

The accident which involved a North Rift matatu and a lorry claimed five lives.

Julius Ndegwa, organising secretary of the Professional Athletes Association(PAA) confirmed Lagat's demise, adding that he had traveled to Nairobi to get his visa.

“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 was quoted by Citizen Digital.

[caption caption="The Late Francis Lagat"][/caption]

Lagat recently participated in the Düsseldorf marathon and emerged 9th, clocking 2hrs 15mins 57secs.

The 28-year-old, who mostly participated in road races, boasts of nine career wins and several other impressive top three finishes.

Two passengers of the North Rift shuttle, traveling from the capital Nairobi, died on the spot, according to Gilgil Officer Commanding Police Division Serah Koki.

Three of the eight who were hurt in the collision later succumbed to their injuries while undergoing treatment at St Mary's Mission Hospital in Gilgil.

Elsewhere, one person died and 17 others sustained serious injuries when a 14-seater matatu they were traveling collided with a canter near Del Monte on the Nairobi-Nyeri Highway.

Three of the injured were rushed to the Thika Level 5 intensive care unit with multiple injuries.

According to the medical superintendent Dr. Peter Patrick Nyaga, the victim had multiple injuries on his head, chest and his legs.

[caption caption="Photo of the Kikopey Accident"][/caption]

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