Family disputes account of what caused cameramans death

Divisions have emerged over the incident that led to the tragic death of cameraman Anthony Ndungu Macharia who succumbed to injuries after being hit by a car in the line of duty during the sixth round of the Kenya Autocross Championships last weekend.

Lee Kanyottu, the family’s spokesman has dismissed media’s reporting of what transpired on the day Macharia met his death at Nairobi’s Jamhuri Racetrack.

According to accounts, the former Multimedia University College student popularly known as Tonie Vaticano was hit while trying to retrieve his camera and tripod from the path of an onrushing race car.

“Tony was outside the truck filming not inside. On making a turn while shooting one car, another vehicle lost control and hit him.

“He had only two seconds to save his life which was unfortunately too short. We have footage of what happened,” Kanyottu told to Citizen Digital.

In a statement sent to newsrooms on Monday,  preliminary report indicated the Nairobi’s Jamhuri Racetrack tragedy was purely an ‘accident’ and a testament of the inherent dangers of motorsport.

However a final report of the same is expected to be tabled soon by the Autocross Commission of the Kenya Motor Sport Federation that is investigating the incident.

“We are closely following the report and once it is officially released we shall provide the details,” Mwaura Njuguna the KMSF General Manager said when quizzed.

Macharia will be interred on Friday in Kieni Village, Karatina, Nyeri County and tributes continued to pour for the motorsport photo journalist on social media as the fraternity was left reeling in shock following the incident.

“A young entrepreneur who was promising has left us. The cruel hand of death has taken this creative artist who was heading far in creative photography. It is a great loss to the family, community and the nation.” Elijah Nguyo, his teacher at Kanjuri High School posted on his Facebook account.

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Anthony Ndungu Macharia Lee Kanyottu

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