On the early morning of July 3, 2025, the football world was rocked by the tragic deaths of Liverpool and Portugal star Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva in a devastating car accident on the A-52 highway near Zamora, Spain. The incident, which claimed the lives of the two brothers just 11 days after Jota’s wedding, has left fans, teammates, and the global football community in mourning. As tributes pour in, new eyewitness accounts have emerged, shedding light on the circumstances of the crash and challenging initial police reports. These accounts provide a poignant and heartbreaking glimpse into the moments leading up to the tragedy.

The Tragic Incident

The accident occurred around 12:30 a.m. local time on the A-52 motorway in the municipality of Cernadilla, Zamora, as the brothers were traveling eastward toward Santander. Jota, aged 28, and Silva, aged 25, were driving a Lamborghini Huracán, a high-performance supercar, when it veered off the road and burst into flames. According to preliminary reports from Spain’s Civil Guard, the crash was caused by a tyre blowout while the vehicle was overtaking another, leading to a catastrophic loss of control. The intensity of the fire that engulfed the car made rescue efforts impossible, and both brothers were declared dead at the scene.

The news sent shockwaves through the football community. Jota, a beloved figure known for his pace, skill, and goal-scoring prowess, had just celebrated a fairytale summer, winning the UEFA Nations League with Portugal and marrying his long-term partner, Rute Cardoso, on June 22. The couple, who have three young children, had shared joyful moments from their wedding on social media, with Jota captioning a post, “Yes to forever.” The sudden loss of both Jota and his brother, a professional footballer for Liga Portugal 2 side Penafiel, has left their family, friends, and fans grappling with unimaginable grief.

Eyewitness Accounts Challenge Police Narrative

Initial reports from Spanish authorities suggested that Jota, believed to be the driver, was traveling at a speed exceeding the legal limit of 120 km/h (75 mph) on the A-52 highway. The Civil Guard’s preliminary investigation pointed to excessive speed as a contributing factor, with forensic teams analyzing skid marks and tyre debris to determine the vehicle’s velocity at the time of the crash. However, two lorry drivers who were on the same road have come forward with accounts that dispute the police’s claims, offering a different perspective on the events leading up to the accident.

José Aleixo Duarte, a lorry driver who witnessed the Lamborghini pass him approximately five minutes before the crash, told Madeira-based news outlet Funchal Notícias that the car was not speeding. “They weren’t speeding. The road was in terrible condition,” Duarte stated, emphasizing that the A-52 highway’s poor state may have played a significant role in the incident. His account suggests that the road’s uneven asphalt and lack of proper maintenance could have exacerbated the effects of the tyre blowout, causing the vehicle to lose control.

A second lorry driver, José Azevedo, provided an even more detailed and emotional account. Azevedo, who filmed the aftermath of the crash, described stopping his vehicle and attempting to assist the occupants of the burning Lamborghini. In a video shared on social media, he recounted, “I filmed it, stopped, grabbed the fire extinguisher, and tried to help. I tried to help, but due to the impact of the accident, there was nothing I could do, absolutely nothing.” Azevedo was adamant that the car was not traveling at excessive speed, stating, “They passed me completely calmly and were not speeding. You have my word they weren’t speeding. They were completely relaxed.” He further noted the road’s poor condition, describing it as “a dark road” that he travels daily and knows to be notoriously hazardous.

Azevedo’s account is particularly heartbreaking, as he expressed the anguish of being unable to save the brothers despite his efforts. “I have a clear conscience. I know what I went through that night because I didn’t know who was inside,” he said, offering his condolences to the Jota family. His testimony, coupled with Duarte’s, raises questions about the Spanish police’s initial findings and highlights the need for a thorough investigation into the road’s condition and its potential role in the tragedy.

The Investigation and Conflicting Narratives

The Spanish Civil Guard has emphasized that their investigation is ongoing, with a final report still being prepared for the courts in Puebla de Sanabria. The report will include an analysis of skid marks, tyre debris, and the wreckage to determine the exact speed and technical conditions of the vehicle at the time of the crash. Authorities have also noted that the intensity of the fire, which nearly destroyed the Lamborghini, has complicated their efforts to gather conclusive evidence.

While the police have pointed to speed as a potential factor, they have also acknowledged the tyre blowout as the primary cause of the crash. The combination of a high-performance vehicle, a sudden mechanical failure, and the road’s condition may have created a perfect storm of circumstances. Additionally, reports have surfaced about previous recall notices for Lamborghini vehicles, including issues with headlight brackets and door mechanisms, though no evidence currently links these to the crash. The incident has sparked broader discussions about the safety standards of supercars, which balance extreme performance with engineering challenges.

The conflicting narratives between the eyewitnesses and the police underscore the complexity of the investigation. While skid marks reportedly extend approximately 100 meters from the point of impact, suggesting high speed, the eyewitnesses’ insistence that the car was traveling at a moderate pace complicates the picture. Advanced forensic models, which account for variables such as road surface composition, barrier geometry, and debris distribution, will likely play a crucial role in determining the true cause of the crash.

The Human Toll

Beyond the technical details, the human cost of the tragedy is profound. Diogo Jota was more than a football star; he was a devoted husband, father, and brother whose warmth and humility endeared him to teammates and fans alike. His 182 appearances for Liverpool, where he scored 65 goals and provided 26 assists, cemented his legacy as a key figure in the club’s recent successes, including the 2024/25 Premier League title, the FA Cup, and two Carabao Cups. His contributions to Portugal’s national team, including two UEFA Nations League titles, further solidified his status as a national hero.

André Silva, a talented player in his own right, was carving out a career with Penafiel in Portugal’s second division, scoring 12 goals in 105 appearances. The brothers’ close bond was evident in their shared journey to Santander, where Jota was headed to catch a ferry back to England for Liverpool’s pre-season training. Jota had been advised against flying due to a recent lung procedure, a decision that tragically led to their fateful road trip.

The Jota family’s grief is compounded by the timing of the tragedy, coming just weeks after Diogo’s wedding. Rute Cardoso, now a widow, is left to raise their three young children—two sons and a baby daughter, all under four years old. Tributes from across the football world have highlighted Jota’s kindness and generosity, with Portugal teammate Cristiano Ronaldo writing, “It doesn’t make sense. Just now we were together in the national team, and you had just gotten married. To your family, your wife, your children, I send my condolences and wish them all the strength in the world.”

Liverpool manager Arne Slot, former manager Jürgen Klopp, and teammates such as Darwin Núñez and Harvey Elliott have also shared heartfelt messages, emphasizing Jota’s impact both on and off the pitch. Liverpool FC issued a statement expressing their devastation and requesting privacy for the family, while fans have gathered at Anfield to leave flowers, scarves, and tributes in memory of their beloved No. 20.

The Football Community Mourns

The outpouring of grief extends beyond Liverpool. Clubs such as Porto, where Jota spent a loan spell, and Wolves, where he played before joining Liverpool, have expressed their sorrow. The Portuguese Football Federation described the brothers’ deaths as “irreparable losses for Portuguese football,” vowing to honor their legacy. UEFA confirmed a minute’s silence before Portugal’s Euro 2025 match against Spain, a fitting tribute to two players who represented their country with pride.

In Jota’s hometown of Gondomar, near Porto, the community has rallied to support the family. A wake and funeral held on July 4 and 5 were attended by Liverpool players, Portuguese national team members, and local residents, with floral arrangements in the shape of Jota’s No. 20 shirt symbolizing his enduring legacy. Gondomar SC, where Jota began his career at age nine, remembered him as a player who “never forgot his roots.”

Misinformation and Media Challenges

Amid the tragedy, misinformation has added to the family’s pain. Social media clips falsely claiming to show the crash, including footage of a 2023 accident in the United States involving a white Porsche, have circulated online. These miscaptioned videos, some featuring distressing images, have been debunked by fact-checking organizations like Full Fact, which emphasized the importance of verifying content before sharing. The spread of such misinformation underscores the challenges of navigating breaking news in the digital age, particularly during moments of collective grief.

Looking Forward

As the investigation continues, questions remain about the role of the road’s condition, the Lamborghini’s mechanical state, and the broader safety implications for high-performance vehicles. The eyewitness accounts from Duarte and Azevedo highlight the human element of the tragedy, reminding us of the fragility of life and the devastating consequences of a split-second event. Their attempts to help, though futile, reflect the compassion of strangers in the face of unimaginable loss.

For Liverpool FC, the loss of Jota is a profound blow, both emotionally and professionally. Discussions about retiring his No. 20 shirt reflect the depth of his impact on the club. For the Jota family, the road ahead is one of grief and resilience, supported by a global community united in their sorrow. As Arne Slot noted, “When the time is right, we will celebrate Diogo Jota, we will remember his goals, and we will sing his song.” For now, the football world mourns a champion, a brother, and a father taken too soon.