World champion hurdler Nicholas Bett has died in a car crash in Kenya.

The 28-year-old died at the scene in Nandi County after the car he was driving veered off the road on Wednesday morning, according to local media.

Bett made history at the 2015 world championships by winning the 400m hurdles, becoming the first Kenyan to claim a world championships gold at a distance shorter than 800m.

He was also a two-time African bronze medallist.

Nandi police commander Patrick Wambani confirmed Bett's death.


His coach, Vincent Mumo, said the athlete had hit a bump in the road before losing control of his car at around 6am.

Bett was on his way home to Kenyan capital Nairobi from the African Championships in Nigeria, which finished on Monday.

The accident happened in an area that athletes use for high-altitude training.

Earlier this year, he competed in the Commonwealth Games in Australia where he came eighth in the 400m hurdles.

Athletics Kenya tweeted a tribute to Bett, sending condolences to his family and "the entire athletics family".

Bett has a twin brother, Haron Koech, who is also a hurdler.