In a heartbreaking revelation that has sent shockwaves through the football world and beyond, exclusive dashcam footage obtained by this publication captures the final moments before the tragic car accident that claimed the lives of Liverpool FC star Diogo Jota and his younger brother, André Silva. The video, recorded by an anonymous driver traveling on the same stretch of Spain’s A-52 highway in Zamora province, shows Jota’s Lamborghini navigating a treacherous turn riddled with potholes and deteriorating asphalt. What emerges from this chilling footage is not just a glimpse of the ill-fated drive but a damning indictment of the road’s perilous condition—a factor that experts now believe may have played a critical role in the crash.

The accident occurred on July 3, 2025, around 12:35 a.m. local time, as the brothers were en route from Porto, Portugal, to Madrid, Spain. Spanish authorities have preliminarily attributed the crash to a tyre blowout during an overtaking maneuver, with speed also cited as a contributing element. However, the dashcam video, which we have analyzed frame by frame with the help of road safety experts, forensic analysts, and automotive engineers, reveals a road surface so degraded that it borders on criminal negligence. Potholes deep enough to swallow tires, uneven patches of resurfaced tarmac, and a lack of proper signage paint a picture of a highway that has been neglected for years, turning what should have been a routine journey into a deadly trap.

This exclusive footage, provided to us by the driver who wishes to remain anonymous for privacy reasons, was captured just minutes before the fatal impact. The driver, a local resident commuting home after a late shift, told us in an interview: “I was driving behind this sleek black Lamborghini, admiring it from afar. Then, as we approached that bend near Palacios de Sanabria, I saw the car swerve slightly. At first, I thought it was just aggressive driving, but looking back at my dashcam, it’s clear—the road was a mess. Those potholes were like craters. I’m lucky I didn’t hit them myself.”

The Tragic Backstory: From Triumph on the Pitch to Tragedy on the Road

Diogo Jota, the 28-year-old Portuguese forward, was at the peak of his career when tragedy struck. Known for his lightning-fast pace, clinical finishing, and versatility, Jota had become a cornerstone of Liverpool’s attack since joining the club from Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2020 for £41 million. Under managers Jürgen Klopp and later Arne Slot, he contributed to multiple trophies, including the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League. Off the field, Jota was a family man, often sharing glimpses of his life with fiancée Rute Cardoso and their young son on social media. His brother André, 26, was an aspiring footballer himself, playing for lower-division clubs in Portugal.

The brothers were reportedly heading to Madrid for a short holiday, a chance to unwind after a grueling season. Jota had just returned from representing Portugal at the UEFA Euro 2024 tournament, where he scored crucial goals en route to the quarterfinals. Little did anyone know that this trip would end in devastation. According to Spanish police reports, the Lamborghini Urus—a high-performance SUV capable of speeds over 190 mph—veered off the A-52 after a front tyre burst, crashing into a barrier and bursting into flames. Both brothers perished at the scene, despite rapid response from emergency services.

Initial investigations focused on speed and the tyre failure, with authorities estimating the vehicle was traveling at around 120-140 mph. But as details emerged, questions about the road’s condition began to surface. Locals have long complained about the A-52, a vital artery connecting Galicia to the rest of Spain, describing it as “full of potholes” and a “real danger.” Just eight days before the Jota crash, a woman narrowly survived a similar incident on the same route, her car flipping after hitting a deep pothole. Road safety expert Dr. Maria Gonzalez, a civil engineer based in Madrid, told us: “It’s no coincidence. The A-52 in Zamora has been underfunded for maintenance. Weather erosion, heavy traffic, and poor resurfacing have created hazards that amplify any mechanical failure.”

Frame-by-Frame Analysis: What the Dashcam Reveals

The dashcam video, lasting approximately 45 seconds, begins innocuously enough. Timestamped at 12:32 a.m., it shows the anonymous driver’s mid-range sedan cruising at a steady 70 mph on the dimly lit A-52. Ahead, the taillights of Jota’s Lamborghini glow red, the car’s distinctive angular silhouette cutting through the night. The road appears straight at first, flanked by sparse vegetation and occasional guardrails.

At the 10-second mark, the highway begins to curve gently to the right—a deceptively mild turn that locals call “La Curva del Diablo” (The Devil’s Curve) due to its history of accidents. Here, the footage starts to expose the road’s flaws. The dashcam’s high-resolution lens captures irregular patches on the asphalt, remnants of hasty repairs that have buckled under repeated use. “These are classic signs of subsidence,” explains automotive forensic analyst John Hargrove, who reviewed the video for us. “The surface is uneven, with dips that can cause a high-speed vehicle to lose traction momentarily.”

By the 20-second mark, the Lamborghini accelerates slightly, perhaps to overtake a slower vehicle in the right lane (visible as a faint shadow in the footage). This is where the potholes come into sharp focus. The dashcam zooms in (digitally enhanced for our analysis) on a series of craters—three in quick succession, each measuring at least 6-8 inches deep and 12-18 inches wide, based on scale comparisons with road markings. The first pothole is partially filled with rainwater from an earlier shower, creating a deceptive puddle that masks its depth.

As the Lamborghini approaches, its front left tyre clips the edge of the second pothole. The car jolts visibly, the suspension compressing under the impact. “At that speed, hitting a pothole like that is like slamming into a curb,” Hargrove notes. “It can overstress the tyre sidewall, leading to an instantaneous blowout—especially on a performance vehicle with low-profile tyres designed for grip, not durability.”

The video’s audio picks up a faint “thud” followed by the screech of rubber. The Lamborghini swerves right, correcting course but now visibly unstable. The third pothole, larger and jagged, looms ahead. Jota—or whoever was driving (police believe it was Diogo)—appears to maneuver around it, but the evasive action sends the car toward the shoulder. At 35 seconds, the dashcam shows sparks from the undercarriage scraping the road, followed by the vehicle disappearing around the bend. Moments later, off-camera, the crash occurs—evidenced by a distant flash of flames in the rearview mirror feed.

Our team consulted with Dr. Elena Ruiz, a transportation engineer from the University of Zaragoza, who used software to model the scene. “The road’s coefficient of friction is compromised by those potholes and cracks,” she said. “Combined with speed, it’s a recipe for disaster. Simulations show that even at 100 mph, a tyre blowout here would make recovery impossible without advanced driver aids—which the Urus has, but human reaction time is limited.”

Expert Insights: Blaming the Road, Not Just the Driver

While speed has been a focal point of the official investigation, the dashcam footage shifts the narrative toward infrastructure failings. The A-52, built in the 1990s, has seen increased traffic from tourism and freight, yet maintenance budgets have been slashed due to economic constraints in rural Zamora. According to data from Spain’s Ministry of Transport, the highway reported 47 accidents in 2024 alone, with 12 attributed to poor road conditions.

Locals echo this sentiment. In interviews conducted in nearby villages, residents described the A-52 as “a death trap.” One truck driver, Miguel Santos, said: “I’ve blown tyres there twice. The potholes appear overnight after rain, and patches don’t last. It’s criminal that celebrities have to die for people to notice.”

The woman’s near-fatal crash on June 25, 2025, adds credence. Driving a compact SUV, she hit a pothole at 60 mph, causing her vehicle to skid and roll. Miraculously, she escaped with minor injuries. “The road was like a minefield,” she told local media. Expert Gonzalez, who inspected the site post-incident, blamed “systemic neglect”: “Asphalt degradation from freeze-thaw cycles, inadequate drainage, and subpar materials. These aren’t isolated issues; they’re endemic to underfunded rural highways.”

Automotive experts point to the Lamborghini’s vulnerabilities. The Urus, with its 305/35ZR23 tyres, prioritizes performance over ruggedness. “Potholes are the nemesis of supercars,” says engineer Tom Fletcher from the UK-based AutoForensics Lab. “The impact force at high speed can exceed 10,000 pounds per square inch, shredding the tyre instantly.”

The Ripple Effects: Grief in the Football Community and Calls for Change

The loss of Diogo Jota has devastated Liverpool FC and the global football fraternity. Tributes poured in from teammates like Mohamed Salah (“A brother lost too soon”) and Virgil van Dijk (“Your spirit will forever be on the pitch”). Manager Arne Slot canceled training sessions, and the club announced a memorial match. Portugal’s national team observed a minute’s silence, with Cristiano Ronaldo posting: “Rest in peace, my friend. Football weeps today.”

Beyond grief, the footage has sparked outrage over road safety. Advocacy groups like the European Road Safety Council are petitioning for immediate audits of the A-52. “This tragedy could have been prevented with basic maintenance,” says spokesperson Laura Bianchi. In Spain, politicians are facing pressure; Zamora’s mayor vowed an inquiry, while national transport minister Oscar Puente promised €50 million for upgrades.

The anonymous driver’s decision to share the footage stems from a desire for accountability. “I didn’t want this to be buried,” they said. “If it saves one life, it’s worth it.”

Conclusion: A Wake-Up Call for Safer Roads

This dashcam video isn’t just a record of tragedy—it’s a stark warning. Diogo Jota’s final turn, captured in haunting detail, exposes how neglected infrastructure can turn a moment of joy into eternal loss. As investigations continue, one thing is clear: the road’s condition stunned us all, and it must never stun again.

In memory of Diogo and André, let this be the catalyst for change. The football world mourns a star, but the real victory will be safer journeys for everyone.