She was killed in a van crash on holiday. Will Mum ever get justice?

December 11, 2022, is a day that two Derbyshire daughters will remember forever. It's the day they lost their "wonderful" and "caring" mum after she was fatally injured in a collision while holidaying in the Canary Islands.

Now, two years after her tragic death, Michelle Exton's daughters have recalled the devastating grief that followed the Dronfield mum's passing, which came after a white van mounted the pavement near Las Chafiras, Tenerife. Michelle, 50, suffered severe head injuries and her mum, Ann, was also knocked over and seriously injured by the vehicle.

The family is now marking the second anniversary of the crash by asking witnesses or anyone with information about the incident to come forward. They’re appealing to locals as well as UK tourists who were on holiday at the time to come forward.

Following the incident, Michelle’s family instructed expert international serious injury lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to bring a civil case, allowing them to access the support they need - and for Ann, the specialist rehabilitation she requires. After the Spanish authorities closed the criminal investigation into the crash, the lawyers enlisted the help of Spanish criminal lawyers to successfully overturn the decision and re-open the investigation.

The police investigation, which is continuing, has since been transferred from regional police to the national Guardia Civil. Irwin Mitchell has secured interim payments for the family, including Michelle’s daughters, Sophia, 25, and Jess, 16, and is continuing to support Michelle’s loved ones.

Sophia 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. 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?”

Michelle and Ann were on a road leading from Las Chafiras to Golf del Sur in the south of the island when the crash happened at about 8.30pm on Sunday, December 11, 2022. Following the collision, the driver briefly got out of the van and saw the couple on the ground before driving off.

Ann, aged 77, spent the night in hospital having sustained rib trauma, cuts and bruises. Spanish Police launched a hunt to trace the van driver. However, just three weeks after the incident, a judge "stayed" the investigation, meaning the case was closed and police were effectively barred from investigating further.

A judge initially rejected an application to re-open the investigation. However, after lawyers at Irwin Mitchell working alongside Spanish criminal lawyers to appeal the decision, the Spanish courts gave police permission to resume their investigation.

Police are continuing to investigate. However, no arrests have been made. Supporting Michelle’s family, James Riley, from Irwin Mitchell, said: “Understandably, Michelle’s family remain devastated by her death and the circumstances surrounding it. While two years have passed, 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 involved in the collision is described as a white man, approximately 5ft 8ins tall, with a bald or closely shaven head.

The passenger-side wing mirror of the white van fell off in the collision and was left behind at the scene. The family have been told that the van could have been a white Mercedes Sprinter, Renault Traffic, a Nissan Primastar or a Vauxhall Vivaro.

Anyone with information about the collision or the van or driver is asked to contact Philip Banks at Irwin Mitchell on 0121 214 5236 or email philip.banks@irwinmitchell.com.