A truck driver who attempted to save Liverpool forward Diogo Jota and his younger brother André Silva during their fatal car crash in Spain has disputed a recent police report about the fatal crash.
The man - who witnessed the tragic incident unfold - has claimed the Lamborghini Huracan the brothers were travelling in was not speeding at the time of the incident — contradicting preliminary findings from Spanish authorities.
Tragic Accident on the A-52
The 28-year-old Portuguese international and his 26-year-old brother died in the early hours of Thursday morning on the A-52 motorway in Cernadilla, Zamora, northwestern Spain.
According to Spanish police, via Sky News, “all the tests carried out for the moment point to the driver of the crash vehicle being Diogo Jota,” with evidence indicating the vehicle appeared to be “significantly exceeding the speed limit for the highway.”
Authorities stated that a tyre appeared to have burst while the Lamborghini was overtaking, causing the acid green £180,000 Lamborghini Huracan to leave the road, roll over, and burst into flames, igniting surrounding vegetation.
Emergency services were unable to save either brother.
Witness Jose Azevedo: “They Were Not Speeding”
As reported by the Daily Mail, truck driver Jose Azevedo - who was also present at the scene - recorded a video from his dashboard perspective, assuring the family: “I filmed it, stopped, tried to help, but unfortunately, there was nothing I could do. I have a clear conscience.
“I know what I went through that night because I didn’t know who was inside. My condolences to the family. [The family] have my word that they were not speeding. I could see the make of the car, the colour of the car.
“I drive this road every day, Monday through Saturday, I know what road it is, and it’s worthless. It’s a dark road, and I could see everything perfectly. Later on, unfortunately, that’s how it ended.”
A Dangerous Highway with a History of Tragedy
The A-52 road near Zamora has long been criticised as dangerous and full of potholes, according to La Opinion de Zamora and the AEA club. In 2020, the road saw nearly 15,000 speeding fines issued, while 2023 statistics recorded 19 road accidents with an average of 1.5 deaths per incident, per GiveMeSport.
Locals have raised 40 pothole complaints in a single month in 2024 and highlighted issues such as poor signage, recurrent fog spells, and limited lighting along the mountainous and forested stretch of highway that connects Portugal to Santander and Bilbao.
Just hours before the brothers’ fatal crash, a 60-year-old woman nearly died on the same stretch after her car veered off the road, requiring firefighters to free her from the wreckage.
Following Jota’s death, a central government representative for Zamora province branded the A-52 “very dangerous,” with calls for improvements renewed in the wake of the tragedy.
Jota’s Final Journey and Personal Milestones
Diogo Jota was travelling with his brother from Portugal to Santander to catch a ferry back to the UK to report for Liverpool pre-season, following medical advice to avoid flying after minor lung surgery.
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The tragedy struck just 11 days after Jota married his long-term partner, Rute Cardoso, with whom he shared three children. They had celebrated Liverpool’s Premier League win in May, appearing together on the Anfield pitch in family photos just weeks prior to the crash.
Liverpool FC expressed devastation in a statement: “Liverpool Football Club are devastated by the tragic passing of Diogo Jota. We will be making no further comment at this time and request the privacy of Diogo and Andre’s family, friends, team-mates and club staff is respected as they try to come to terms with an unimaginable loss.”
A wake for the brothers was held in Gondomar, near Porto, followed by a funeral attended by Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk, Andy Robertson, Curtis Jones, Wataru Endo, Ibrahima Konate, Connor Bradley, and Jordan Henderson. Floral tributes reading “20” and “30” were carried in honour of Jota and Silva.
Manager Arne Slot described the shock as “absolute,” while former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp admitted: “This is a moment where I struggle. There must be a bigger purpose, but I can’t see it.”
Teammate Mohamed Salah shared his grief with The Mirror, saying: “I am truly lost for words… It’s going to be extremely difficult to accept that Diogo won’t be there when we go back.”
The final police report, which will be submitted to the Puebla de Sanabria court, will determine the exact cause of the crash, including whether speed and a tyre burst were responsible.
In the meantime, memorials have been laid at Anfield, the AXA Training Centre, Wolves’ Molineux Stadium, and at the football academy in Gondomar where Jota’s career began, ensuring he is remembered in the community that shaped him.
Our thoughts continue to go out to everybody impacted by this tragedy.