Truck driver Jose Azevedo, who recorded the accident scene with his dashcam, offered condolences to Jota's family.

"I filmed the video, stopped, and tried to help, but unfortunately there was nothing I could do," Azevedo said. "I can assure his family that they weren't speeding. I could clearly see the make and color of the car. I drive this road every day, Monday to Saturday, and I know how dangerous it is."

The wreckage of Diogo Jota's supercar after the fatal accident on the A52 highway, Zamora province, Spain, on the morning of 3/7/2025. Photo: CNN/UNPIXS

The wreckage of Diogo Jota's supercar after the fatal accident on the A52 highway, Zamora province, Spain, on the morning of 3/7/2025. Photo: CNN/UNPIXS

Jota and his brother, Andre Silva, were in a Lamborghini Huracan on the A52 highway on the morning of July 3, approximately 110 km west of Valladolid, Spain, when the accident occurred. While attempting to overtake another vehicle, Jota's car reportedly suffered a tire blowout, causing him to lose control. The car rolled multiple times before catching fire. Both Jota and Silva, a player for the Portuguese second-division team Penafiel, died at the scene.

This account contradicts the preliminary report by the Guardia Civil, which suggested Jota, believed to be the driver, was exceeding the 120 km/h speed limit when a tire blew out. Investigators reached this conclusion after examining tire marks.

Azevedo stated, "It was a dark road, and I could clearly see the car's make and color. Then, unfortunately, it all ended like that."

The A52 highway is known for its hazardous conditions, including potholes and poor signage. In 2023, 19 accidents occurred on this road, resulting in an average of 1.5 fatalities per incident. In 2024, approximately 40 pothole complaints were submitted to the Spanish Ministry of Transport in just one month.

The Zamora region is also known for its challenging terrain, frequent fog, and limited visibility. Despite this, it's a major route for drivers traveling from northern Portugal to the ports of Santander and Bilbao, or northeast towards France.

The scene of the car accident that killed Liverpool player Diogo Jota and his brother, in Zamora, northwestern Spain, on 3/7/2025. Photo: AP

The scene of the car accident that killed Liverpool player Diogo Jota and his brother, in Zamora, northwestern Spain, on 3/7/2025. Photo: AP

Nearly 15,000 speeding violations were recorded on this road in 2020. Four years prior, a campaign was launched to control speed and raise awareness of accident-prone areas.

Just hours before the brothers' accident, a 60-year-old woman was also seriously injured on the same road. Her car veered off the road and became trapped. Firefighters rescued her and transported her to the hospital.

Jota's death came just 11 days after his wedding to his long-time girlfriend, Rute Cardoso. The couple first met in 2012 at the age of 13 while attending the same high school in Porto. They have three children. In July 2022, Diogo and Rute got engaged. They were married on June 22 in Porto and shared photos of their wedding and their children on social media.

Jota joined Liverpool from Wolves in 2020, making 182 appearances, scoring 65 goals, and providing 26 assists. He helped Liverpool win the Premier League the previous season, as well as the FA Cup and two League Cups. He made his debut for the Portuguese national team in March 2019, playing 49 matches and scoring 14 goals, and winning the Nations League in 2019 and 2025.

Jota and Silva's funeral was held at the Igreja Matriz de Gondomar Catholic Church on the morning of July 5, in the same town where the Liverpool forward was married the previous month. Their bodies were buried in the local cemetery after the official ceremonies.

Many of Jota's teammates from the Portuguese national team and his former clubs, including Liverpool, Porto, and Wolves, along with coaches, football managers, politicians, fans, and members of the public, attended the funeral. At Anfield, Liverpool set up a memorial area for fans and players who could not travel to Portugal to pay their respects, lay flowers, and light candles.

Liverpool postponed the start of their pre-season training following Jota's death, with the team expected to resume training on July 10. The Premier League champions are scheduled to play their first friendly match against Preston on July 13. However, it's currently unclear whether the match will proceed as planned.

Hong Duy (according to Sports Mail)