The family of a 17-year-old Norwegian girl killed in a hit-and-run on the Costa del Sol have described her as ‘a very happy and caring girl’.
Nikoline had been celebrating Norway’s World Cup victory over Brazil with other young Norwegians before she disappeared in the early hours of Monday.
She was later discovered dead on the A-7 near Mijas, having been hit by a lorry in a suspected hit-and-run.
Her family described her as ‘a very happy and caring girl’ who had been due to fly home to Norway that same day to celebrate a friend’s birthday.
But mystery remains over how she ended up a 20-minute drive away from where she had been partying with friends, and without any identification.
10pm: Norway match kicks off
Nikoline had been watching Norway take on Brazil in the World Cup Round of 16 on Sunday night.
The match kicked off at 10pm Spanish time and ended in a 2-1 victory for Norway, sparking celebrations among Norwegian fans on the Costa del Sol.
Around midnight: Celebrations begin
After the match, Nikoline and other young Norwegians are understood to have gone out in Puerto Banus, Marbella, to celebrate the result.
She later went to Funky Buddha, a well-known nightclub in the resort’s nightlife area.
1.30am: Last contact with family
Nikoline’s family said the last contact they had with her came at around 1.30am.
At that point, relatives said, ‘everything was fine’.
They later said her silence during the rest of the night was deeply unusual because she was very close to her mother and regularly stayed in touch, even while out with friends.
3am to 4am: Friend loses sight of her
According to the family’s account, Nikoline was at Funky Buddha with another girl and several young Norwegians they had met that night.
Between 3am and 4am, her friend reportedly lost sight of her after going to the toilet.
Shortly afterwards, Nikoline’s phone stopped responding.
5.20am: Fatal collision on A-7
At around 5.20am, a female pedestrian was hit by a vehicle on the A-7 motorway near Mijas Costa, at kilometre 1027 in the Marbella direction.
Witnesses called Andalucia’s 112 emergency service after seeing the victim on the road.
Several drivers reportedly stopped to try to help, but the vehicle involved allegedly continued driving after the impact.
After 5.20am: Emergency services arrive
The 112 control room mobilised Guardia Civil traffic officers and 061 health workers to the scene.
Paramedics could only confirm the woman’s death.
At that stage, the victim was not carrying identification, meaning authorities could not immediately confirm who she was.
Monday morning: Family launches appeal
Unaware that Nikoline had died, her family launched an urgent public appeal to find her.
They said the 17-year-old had disappeared during a night out in Puerto Banus and had been due to fly back to Norway later that day.
Her relatives asked anyone who had seen her, or who had been with her during the night, to come forward.
Later on Monday: Victim identified
Police later confirmed that the unidentified pedestrian killed on the A-7 was Nikoline.
Her lack of ID had initially delayed the identification process.
The Guardia Civil is continuing to investigate the hit-and-run and is working to identify the driver who fled the scene.
The key unanswered questions remain how Nikoline ended up on the A-7, whether she was alone at the time and who was behind the wheel of the vehicle that struck her.
The Policia Nacional told the Spanish Eye: ‘The Policia Nacional received a missing person report concerning the minor.
‘Subsequently, the Guardia Civil informed us that the girl had been found dead, apparently as the result of a possible road traffic accident after being struck by a vehicle. The girl’s family was informed of this development.
‘The investigation into incidents of this nature falls under the jurisdiction of the Guardia Civil. We are therefore unable to provide any further information.’
The Spanish Eye has contacted the Guardia Civil for comment but has not received a response.
Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.
