A teenager, 17, lost her life in a suspected hit-and-run incident in a popular tourist destination after witnessing her national team’s victory in the World Cup. Nikoline Piwoni Høie was allegedly hit by a vehicle, believed to be a lorry, on a dual carriageway near La Cala de Mijas on the A-7 motorway close to Marbella in southern Spain. The driver fled the scene without stopping.
The tragic event took place following Nikoline’s night out with friends. She was last seen at the Funky Buddha nightclub in Puerto Banús. The Norwegian teen had been celebrating Norway’s 2-1 win over Brazil in the World Cup along with other young Norwegians.
On her way back, she took transportation before the incident occurred on the A-7. Emergency services responded to the scene around 5:20 am, but unfortunately, Nikoline succumbed to her injuries.
Nikoline had been vacationing in the Costa del Sol since June 19 and was scheduled to return to Norway on the same day. The Spanish Civil Guard is treating the case as a hit-and-run, and efforts are ongoing to identify the vehicle and driver involved, with no arrests made yet.
A family spokesperson, Finn Greve-Isdahl, expressed the profound sorrow of the extended family, struggling to cope with the sudden loss of a beloved member. The community of Arendal has been thanked for their support.
Nikoline’s stepmother shared her devastation, emphasizing Nikoline’s eagerness to return home and calling the situation unfair and a nightmare. Acting mayor of Arendal, Inger Brokka de Ruiter, described the incident as deeply tragic and confirmed support from the local crisis team for affected individuals.
The Norwegian Foreign Ministry has been notified, and the embassy is on standby to provide assistance. The investigation into the incident remains ongoing.
