Liverpool and Portugal forward Diogo Jota and his brother, Andre Silva, died in a single-vehicle crash in Spain earlier this year, with police now detailing the likely cause.
Official confirmation and crash details
The tragic incident occurred on the A-52 motorway near the city of Zamora. Medical personnel at the scene confirmed the deaths of both men on Thursday, July 3, with the Civil Guard in Zamora making the first public announcement.
Police confirmed that no other vehicles were involved in the accident, which happened on the side of the road. A spokesperson stated that no one else besides the two occupants of the car was injured.
Investigation points to tyre failure
Traffic officers from the Civil Guard have been leading the investigation. Based on evidence from the scene, they believe the car suffered a tyre blowout. "We believe the car suffered a blowout from the marks on the road," a police statement indicated.
While a source from the government sub-delegation in Zamora mentioned investigators were looking into a possible speeding incident, this has been contradicted by eyewitness accounts at the scene.
Challenges and final report
The investigation faced complications. The Lamborghini veered off the road and caught fire, making identification difficult. Initial confirmation used documents from the scene, with final verification requiring DNA tests by forensic experts.
Police acknowledged it is "impossible to say at exactly what speed the car was going" at the moment of impact. However, Civil Guard investigators expect to determine an approximate speed in their final report by analysing evidence such as skid marks.
The brothers were travelling to the port city of Santander to catch a ferry back to the UK. Jota was returning to Liverpool for pre-season training but had chosen to drive following medical advice after recent lung surgery.
