Court extends detention of Costa del Sol hit-and-run suspect accused of cleaning van with bleach

The Guardia Civil has revealed perturbing updates regarding the case of a Norwegian teenager who was tragically killed in a hit-and-run on a notoriously dangerous stretch of a Costa del Sol road. According to the Spanish law enforcement agency, the man who was arrested for the crime, a 46-year-old Spanish man and resident of Mijas on the Costa del Sol, is believed to have cleaned his van with bleach after the incident. His detention has been extended.

Cleaning a van with bleach: Suspect accused of chemical cover-up

The alleged hit-and-run in question happened on the A-7 main road in Mijas on Monday, July 6, resulting in the death of 17-year-old Nikoline. She had reportedly been crossing the road when she was struck. A suspect was arrested on the morning of Monday, July 13, after his vehicle showed damage that was consistent with the accident.

Her family, located in Marbella, had filed a missing person report on the same day of the incident, as Nikoline had actually been missing since the early morning of Sunday, July 5. This Wednesday, July 15, investigators are carrying out a visual inspection of the man’s van, and the detainee will soon be questioned regarding the incident, according to Pedro Fernández, a Government Delegate in Andalucia.

Agents believe that the suspect ran over the woman in the early hours of Sunday, July 5, and drove to his home in Calahonda, where he was seen cleaning his van with bleach. Investigators believe he did this in order to eliminate evidence of the accident, from which he allegedly fled.

Suspect’s initial statement: Denying any involvement, alibi being investigated

In the suspect’s initial statement, he denied any involvement in the hit-and-run, and according to a report of the incident by El Español, officials stated he made “contradictory statements” that heightened suspicions. However, the man reportedly offered an alternative version of events and has an alibi that is currently being verified, which could potentially rule out his involvement in the crime altogether.

However, according to members of the Guardia Civil Traffic Unit, there are other lines of investigation being followed as law enforcement officials are working to determine the vehicle that hit the young woman as well as its driver, who fled the scene, and the events leading up to the crime.

Originally, investigators hypothesised that the young woman had been hit by a truck, but ruled that possibility out after finding glass fragments on the A-7 main road at kilometre marker 1027, indicating the impact was caused by a car or van.

Tracking a teenager’s final journey

Nikoline’s mobile phone was also discovered in the area, allowing officials to track her last movements. According to investigators, Nikoline had left the Puerto Banús entertainment district in Marbella in a ride-sharing vehicle, where she had been partying with friends, apparently sharing the car with two other young people. She had asked the driver to let her out near the town of Mijas, close to a residential area where her hotel was located. One of her friends told her family that she had last seen Nikoline between 3:00am and 4:00am at a nightclub in Puerto Banus. The friend had gone to the bathroom, but when she returned, Nikoline was gone.

She had been on holiday on the Costa del Sol since June 19.

The young woman’s family explained, “Nikoline got out of the Uber she was sharing with two other young people, right on the highway, next to a bus stop, and in front of the housing development where she was spending a few days of vacation with her father and stepmother. She had planned to return to Norway on the very day she disappeared to celebrate a birthday party.”

A saddening cautionary tale for anyone who frequents the A-7 in Mijas

As investigations continue, the incident serves as a tragic cautionary tale for people traversing main roads and busy sections of areas on the Costa del Sol. This stretch of the A-7 motorway is known for being particularly dangerous, with other deaths occurring in this area in April and May of this year.

Following this tragic new incident, it is important to keep a few things in mind when travelling on main roads, and especially on the A-7 in Mijas:

• Never cross the A-7 on foot; use the pedestrian footbridges and overpasses to ensure your safety.
• When using a ride-sharing app like Uber or Cabify, set a drop-off point and finish the ride before getting out.
• Avoid asking a driver to let you off on a main road. It is illegal for ride-share drivers to drop passengers off on a motorway.
• Keep your phone charged, make sure a close friend or family member knows your whereabouts, and maintain communication with loved ones if possible.
• If possible, avoid travelling late at night alone.
• Remember that the emergency number for Spain is 112.