Fresh appeal two years after mum's death in Tenerife

The family of a mother killed in a crash in Tenerife have issued a fresh appeal for witnesses - two years on from her death.

Michelle Exton, from Dronfield, Derbyshire, was holidaying in the Canary Islands in December 2022 when she and her mum, Ann, were hit by a van that mounted the pavement.

The 50-year-old suffered fatal head injuries and died in hospital four days later.

Spanish police initially closed their investigation after three weeks, but a successful legal appeal has reopened the case, and Ms Exton's family is asking any locals or tourists to come forward if they have any information.

The crash happened on a road leading from Las Chafiras to Golf del Sur in the south of the island at about 20:30 local time on 11 December 2022.

The driver briefly got out of the vehicle and saw the couple on the ground, but then drove away.

Ann, 77, spent the night in hospital with rib trauma, cuts and bruises.

Law firm Irwin Mitchell, which is representing the family, says the ongoing police investigation into Ms Exton's death has been transferred from regional police to the national Guardia Civil but no arrests have been made.

Ms Exton's daughter, Sophia, who was also on the holiday with her sister Jess, 16, said the "hurt, anguish and pain" was still "as raw now" as it was when her mother died.

The 25-year-old said: "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'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."

Irwin Mitchell says the driver involved in the crash is described as a white man, approximately 5ft 8in (1.72m) tall, with a bald or closely-shaven head.

The family have been told the van could have been a white Mercedes Sprinter, Renault Traffic, a Nissan Primastar or a Vauxhall Vivaro.

James Riley, a lawyer at the firm, said: "While two years have passed, time has stood still for the family because of the many unanswered questions that remain.

"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."

Follow BBC Derby on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected] or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210.