Former World 400m Hurdles Champion Nicholas Bett Dies in a Road Crash

Former 400M hurdles world champion Nicholas Bett died in a road crash in Nandi, family and Nandi Police Commander Patrick Wambani confirm.

Bett died on the spot after the car he was driving veered off the road and landed in a ditch near Lessos along Eldoret-Kapsabet road on Wednesday morning.

Nandi Police Commander Patrick Wambani stated that preparations were being made to take the body of the 28-year-old athlete to a nearby mortuary.

The commander noted that the athlete hit a bump before losing control of his car at Sochoi near Lessos.

[caption caption="Bett's car which was involved in an accident"][/caption]

The Kenyan athlete will be remembered for the glory he brought the country after winning in the 400 meters hurdles.

Athletics Kenya official Barnaba Korir stated: “I have just talked to Milcah (Chemos) who is at the scene and confirmed. It is very sad because I talked to him as late as yesterday at 11am. He had gone to Nairobi Hospital to see a doctor because of the injury he picked up in Asaba and he was to come back to AK later in the day for a letter."

He added: “I tried to call him yesterday because of the document but I could not get through to him. This morning we got the reports and as AK we are saddened beyond words.”

Bett had pulled out of the 400m Hurdles final in Asaba after 200m with an injury in a race that his brother Aron Koech who won gold in the 400m by 4 relays finished fourth.

He was reported to be in high spirits when the team returned from Asaba on Monday night and was looking forward to recovering from injury and competing at next year’s IAAF World Championship in Doha Qatar where he looked forward to reclaiming his crown.

[caption caption="Former World 400m Hurdles Champion Nicholas Bett"][/caption]

He was a world champion in the event, having won in 2015 and a two-time bronze medallist at the African Championships in Athletics.

In April this year, Bett led his brother Aaron Koech in the 400m hurdles final at Carrara Stadium as they sought to give Kenya their first gold medal at the Club Games.

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