Michelle Exton, 50, had been enjoying a relaxing family break in Tenerife when she was hit by a van which caused catastrophic head injuries – but her killer has not yet been caught
The heartbroken daughters of a British mum who was killed in a Tenerife hit-and-run are still fighting to get the driver behind bars two years on from the tragedy.
Michelle Exton, 50, was holidaying on the Spanish island with family in December 2022 when a white van mounted a pavement and smashed into her, leaving her with catastrophic head injuries. The mum was rushed to hospital, where she tragically died four days later.
No arrests have been made in the two years since the horror crash, which also left Michelle’s mum Ann, 77, seriously injured. Her devastated daughter Sophia launched a successful legal bid to reopen the criminal investigation into her death after Spanish authorities stopped their search for the driver after just three weeks.
Sophia, 25, is appealing for anyone with information about the incident to come forward. She said: “Mum didn’t deserve to die in the way she did. All we want to do is at least honour her memory by establishing the answers she deserves. We’ll never stop trying to get justice for mum.
“There must be people out there who either witnessed the collision or have information about it. We’d urge them to search their conscience and come forward with information. The smallest detail could prove vital in helping the police. If something similar happened to their family how would they feel if people with information didn’t come forward and allowed the person responsible to continue to live their life while their family was left broken?”
Lawyers from Irwin Mitchell have secured interim payments for Sophia and Michelle’s other daughter Jess, 16. Paying tribute to Michelle, of Dronfield, Derbyshire, Sophia described her as a “loving and caring person” who they “want back in their lives.” She said: “To lose mum in the way we did is something that will stay with us forever.
“She was a wonderful, loving, caring person who went out of her way to help others. The hurt, anguish and pain we wake with each day is still as raw now as it was when she died. We never expected that when mum went on holiday she’d never come home.
“Our family is still in pieces over mum’s death, and we haven’t been able to start the process of trying to grieve for her because of everything that has happened. We would do anything to have mum back in our lives. Our family just isn’t the same without her. However, we know that’s not possible.”
Spanish Police launched a manhunt for the van driver after the crash, but just three weeks later, a judge ordered the investigation to be closed down. An application to re-open the case was also initially rejected, but police were able to resume after lawyers at Irwin Mitchell appealed the decision.
James Riley, an expert international serious injury lawyer at Irwin Mitchell, said: “Understandably Michelle’s family remain devastated by her death and the circumstances surrounding it. While it’s two years since Michelle’s death, time has stood still for the family because of the many unanswered questions that remain.
“While we’ve managed to help Michelle’s loved ones in the civil case, they remain focused on the police investigation and trying to find the driver involved in the collision. As we continue to support the family, we join them in asking people with information about the incident to come forward to assist the police. Nothing will ever make up for Michelle’s death but if the driver is found it at least provides her loved ones with some form of closure.”
The driver of the vehicle is described as being a white male, approximately 5ft8ins tall, with a bald or closely shaven head. A passenger side wing mirror of the white van was left behind at the crash site, allowing the van to be identified as wither a white Mercedes Sprinter, Renault Traffic, a Nissan Primastar or a Vauxhall Vivaro.
Anyone with information about the crash, van or driver, is asked to get in touch with Philip Banks of Irwin Mitchell on 0121 214 5236 or philip.banks@irwinmitchell.com.
