Zamora, Spain, July 16, 2025 — Spanish authorities have released chilling footage of the car crash that claimed the lives of Liverpool FC star Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva, revealing the devastating moments when their Lamborghini Huracan veered off the A-52 motorway in northwestern Spain. The footage, captured by a nearby traffic camera, shows the vehicle engulfed in flames after a suspected tyre blowout caused it to leave the road near Cernadilla, Zamora, at approximately 12:30 a.m. on July 3, 2025. A witness, one of two Portuguese lorry drivers who observed the incident, has come forward with a shocking claim: Diogo Jota was still alive immediately after the crash, before the fire consumed the car.
The witness, José Azevedo, a truck driver who filmed the aftermath, recounted the harrowing scene to Spanish media. “I stopped, grabbed my fire extinguisher, and tried to help,” Azevedo said. “I could see him moving, he was still alive after the impact, but the flames were too intense. There was nothing I could do.” Azevedo’s account aligns with a second lorry driver, José Aleixo Duarte, who stated the Lamborghini passed him minutes before the crash at a “moderate speed,” contradicting initial police reports suggesting Jota was speeding. “The road was in terrible condition,” Duarte added, challenging the Guardia Civil’s claim of excessive speed as a factor.
Spain’s Guardia Civil initially reported that the crash occurred when the Lamborghini, driven by Jota, suffered a tyre blowout while overtaking another vehicle, causing it to veer off the A-52 and burst into flames. Early investigations pointed to possible speeding, with forensic analysis of tyre marks suggesting the car exceeded the 120 km/h (75 mph) limit. However, the lorry drivers’ testimonies have cast doubt on this narrative, prompting police to continue their investigation. A final report is being prepared for the court in Puebla de Sanabria.
The tragedy has sent shockwaves through the football world. Jota, 28, and his brother André Silva, 25, a professional footballer for Portugal’s second-tier club Penafiel, were traveling from Porto to Santander to catch a ferry to England for Liverpool’s pre-season training. Jota had been advised against flying due to a recent lung procedure following a rib injury sustained last season. The brothers’ deaths came just 11 days after Jota married his long-term partner, Rute Cardoso, with whom he shared three young children.
Tributes have poured in from across the globe. Liverpool FC, where Jota scored 65 goals in 182 appearances, issued a statement expressing their devastation: “The club is heartbroken by the tragic passing of Diogo and André. We request privacy for their family and friends during this unimaginable loss.” Fans have gathered at Anfield, leaving flowers, scarves, and messages, with a homemade banner reading, “Diogo lives forever.”
Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo, who played alongside Jota in the recent UEFA Nations League triumph, wrote on social media, “It does not make sense. We were just together, and now you’re gone. Rest in peace, Diogo and André.” Former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp, who signed Jota in 2020, added, “This is a moment where I struggle. My prayers are with their family.”
The brothers’ funeral in their hometown of Gondomar, near Porto, was attended by Liverpool players including Virgil van Dijk, Andy Robertson, and Alexis Mac Allister, as well as Portugal teammates like Bruno Fernandes. Portugal’s head coach Roberto Martinez spoke at the service, saying, “Diogo and André will be with us forever. We are a close family, and their spirits live on.”
As the investigation continues, questions linger about the road conditions and the true cause of the crash. The football community remains united in grief, mourning the loss of two young talents whose legacies will endure on and off the pitch.