New Evidence to be Presented to Police in Óshlíð Case

Relatives of Kristinn Hauks Jóhannesson, who died in 1973, are set to present new evidence to the police, urging a fresh examination of his case.

Jóhannesson was found deceased near the Óshlíð road between Bolungarvík and Hnífsdal. At the time, the incident was investigated as a traffic accident, and he was presumed to have died from accidental causes. However, his closest relatives requested a new investigation in April 2021, citing perceived shortcomings in the initial inquiry.

In October 2022, the Westfjords police chief decided to close the investigation, concluding that the findings still pointed to a traffic accident. This decision was overturned in February 2023 by the state prosecutor, who ordered a second, more thorough investigation. That subsequent investigation was concluded in 2024.

The family also seeks information regarding the decision to exhume Jóhannesson's remains in 2022 as part of the renewed investigation. The road through Óshlíð was historically known as one of the country's most dangerous routes.