World's oldest marathon runner Fauja Singh dies at 114 in hit-and-run
The world's oldest marathon runner and first centenarian to complete a marathon was killed in a hit-and-run after being struck by a vehicle.
"My 'Turbaned Tornado' is no more," Khushwant Singh, Fauja Singh's biographer, who wrote "Turbaned Tornado," posted on X on Monday. "It is with great sadness that I share the passing of my most revered S. Fauja Singh."
On Monday, July 14, at around 3:30 p.m. local time, Singh, 114, was struck by a vehicle near his village, Bias, in India while crossing a road, according to the biographer.
Singh's village was located in Punjab, India, in the northern part of the country, near its border with Pakistan.
Driver has been arrested, according to reports
According to the BBC, Hindustan Times, and Indian Express, an arrest has been made in connection to the case. The reports state that the man is Amritpal Singh Dhillon, a Canadian national.
Singh Dhillon is accused of driving a speeding SUV when the incident occurred, reported the BBC. A white colored SUV believed to have been involved in the crash has also been recovered.
Singh competed in Toronto Waterfront Marathon at 100
Singh competed in the marathon, which takes place annually, multiple times.
He competed in 2011 at the age of 100, according to Reuters. He competed eight years prior, in 2003, and recorded his best time at five hours and 40 minutes.
The Toronto Waterfront Marathon is nearly 25 miles long, 40 kilometers, according to the marathon's website.
Singh was an amateur runner in his youth, according to Reuters.
He began running competitively at 89, ran multiple full marathons and competed in 10 km races, which span 6.21 miles, before he retired in 2013.
Singh not in the Guinness Book of World Records
While Singh claimed he was born in 1911, he did not receive a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records because he lacked a birth certificate, as India did not keep birth records in 1911, according to Reuters.
This story has been updated to add new information.
Contributing: Reuters
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