Introduction

The tragic deaths of Liverpool FC star Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva in a car accident on July 3, 2025, sent shockwaves through the football world. The brothers, aged 28 and 25 respectively, perished when their Lamborghini Huracán veered off the A-52 motorway in northwestern Spain, near Zamora, and burst into flames. Initial reports from the Spanish Guardia Civil, released on July 8, suggested that the vehicle was likely speeding at the time of the crash, with a suspected tyre blowout contributing to the loss of control. However, new developments have emerged, as eyewitness accounts from two Portuguese truck drivers challenge the police’s preliminary findings, raising questions about the true cause of the accident. This article explores the details of the crash, the conflicting narratives, and the broader implications for the ongoing investigation.

The Fatal Crash

The accident occurred in the early hours of July 3, 2025, at approximately 12:30 a.m. local time, on the A-52 motorway near Cernadilla, close to Spain’s border with Portugal. Diogo Jota, a celebrated forward for Liverpool FC and the Portuguese national team, was traveling with his younger brother André Silva, a professional footballer for FC Penafiel in Portugal’s second division. The brothers were reportedly en route to Santander to catch a ferry to the United Kingdom, as Jota had been advised against flying due to a recent lung procedure. According to initial reports, their bright green Lamborghini Huracán suffered a tyre blowout while overtaking another vehicle, causing the car to veer off the road, roll, and ignite. The resulting fire consumed the vehicle and spread to surrounding vegetation, leaving emergency responders unable to save the brothers, who were pronounced dead at the scene.

The loss of Diogo Jota, who had recently married his childhood sweetheart Rute Cardoso on June 22 and was a father of three, was mourned globally. Tributes poured in from teammates, fans, and prominent figures, including Cristiano Ronaldo, Jürgen Klopp, and even political leaders like UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Portugal’s President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa. Liverpool FC, where Jota had become a beloved figure, expressed devastation and opened a book of condolence at Anfield, while flags were lowered to half-mast.

Police Preliminary Report

On July 8, 2025, the Zamora branch of Spain’s Guardia Civil issued a preliminary statement on the crash, outlining their initial findings. The report suggested that Diogo Jota was likely driving the Lamborghini at the time of the accident and that the vehicle was traveling “well above” the speed limit of 120 km/h (74 mph) on that stretch of the A-52 motorway. The police based their conclusions on forensic evidence, including tyre marks left at the scene, which they believed indicated excessive speed. The statement also noted that the car had likely suffered a tyre blowout while overtaking, causing the driver to lose control. The Guardia Civil emphasized that their investigation was ongoing, with a final expert report to be submitted to a court in Puebla de Sanabria.

The police’s assertion that speeding was a factor in the crash quickly drew attention, as it implied that Jota’s actions may have contributed to the tragedy. This narrative sparked debates among fans and media, with some questioning whether the focus on speed was premature, given the lack of a finalized report. The A-52 motorway, known for its poor condition and history of accidents, was also cited as a potential factor, with reports of wild animals and road faults contributing to its reputation as an accident blackspot.

Eyewitness Testimonies

In a dramatic turn of events, two Portuguese truck drivers who witnessed the crash have come forward to challenge the police’s claims. The first eyewitness, José Azevedo, identified himself as the individual who filmed the burning Lamborghini in a video that went viral shortly after the accident. In a selfie video posted on social media, Azevedo provided a detailed account of what he observed. He stated that the Lamborghini passed his truck “super calmly” and “without speeding,” contradicting the police’s suggestion of excessive speed. Azevedo, who drives the A-52 route regularly, emphasized the poor condition of the road, describing it as “dark” and “terrible.” He recounted stopping his truck, grabbing a fire extinguisher, and attempting to assist, but the intensity of the flames and the severity of the crash made it impossible to save the brothers. “I have a clear conscience, I know what I saw,” Azevedo said, expressing condolences to the Jota and Silva families.

A second eyewitness, José Aleixo Duarte, corroborated Azevedo’s account. Duarte told the Portuguese newspaper Correio da Manhã that the Lamborghini overtook his vehicle approximately five minutes before the crash, traveling at a “moderate speed.” Like Azevedo, he criticized the condition of the A-52, calling it “in a bad state.” Duarte’s testimony, reported by Madeira-based outlet Funchal Notícias and later picked up by Spanish media, added further weight to the claim that the Lamborghini was not speeding at the time of the accident.

These eyewitness accounts have sparked significant discussion, with fans and commentators on platforms like X expressing frustration over the police’s preliminary conclusions. One user, @Anfield_Oracle, described the police’s statements as potentially “slanderous” for suggesting Jota was speeding without conclusive evidence. Another post by @perfilcom highlighted the truck drivers’ insistence that the car was moving “calmly” and pointed to the dangerous road conditions as a likely factor in the crash.

Implications for the Investigation

The emergence of these eyewitness testimonies has cast doubt on the Guardia Civil’s initial findings and raised questions about the thoroughness of the investigation. According to a report by Spanish newspaper El Mundo, police were still attempting to identify eyewitnesses, including the person behind the viral video, as late as July 8, suggesting that Azevedo and Duarte’s accounts may not have been fully considered in the preliminary report. This discrepancy has fueled speculation that the police’s focus on speeding may have been premature or influenced by assumptions about the high-performance nature of the Lamborghini Huracán, a vehicle capable of reaching speeds up to 200 mph.

The condition of the A-52 motorway has also come under scrutiny. Described as a notorious accident blackspot, the road is plagued by poor maintenance, inadequate lighting, and frequent wildlife crossings, particularly by Iberian wolves and deer. Just hours before Jota’s crash, a 60-year-old female driver was seriously injured in a separate accident at the same location, further highlighting the road’s dangers. Both Azevedo and Duarte’s emphasis on the road’s poor state suggests that external factors, rather than driver error, may have played a significant role in the tragedy.

Broader Context and Public Reaction

The conflicting narratives surrounding the crash have intensified public and media interest in the case. For Liverpool FC fans, the loss of Jota, a key player who contributed to the club’s Premier League title win in 2025, has been particularly devastating. The club’s response, including tributes from players like Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk, who attended the brothers’ funeral in Gondomar, Portugal, reflects the deep emotional impact of the tragedy. Fans have left flowers, scarves, and messages at Anfield, with one supporter noting, “Football doesn’t matter anymore” in the face of such loss.

The eyewitness accounts have also sparked debates about accountability and the rush to judgment in high-profile cases. On X, users have called for a thorough investigation that prioritizes evidence over speculation. The Portuguese Football Federation, which described Jota and Silva as “champions” whose deaths represent “irreparable losses,” has urged UEFA to honor the brothers with a minute’s silence at matches, underscoring their lasting legacy in the sport.

Conclusion

The tragic deaths of Diogo Jota and André Silva have left an indelible mark on the football community, and the ongoing investigation into their fatal crash continues to unfold. The eyewitness testimonies of José Azevedo and José Aleixo Duarte, which challenge the Spanish police’s claim that Jota was speeding, have introduced significant doubt into the narrative surrounding the accident. As the Guardia Civil finalizes its expert report, the focus on the A-52 motorway’s poor condition and the possibility of a tyre blowout as the primary cause may shift the investigation’s direction. For now, the football world mourns the loss of two talented brothers, while their families, friends, and fans await clarity and justice in this heartbreaking case.