Spanish police have revealed for the first time that they believe Liverpool striker Diogo Jota was behind the wheel when his £185,000 Lamborghini Huracan veered off the road and burst into flames, killing him and his younger brother Andre Silva.
The accident happened last week on the A-52 motorway near Zamora, close to the border between Spain and Portugal. Preliminary police investigations suggest the car was travelling at a speed well above the 120 km/h speed limit.
In an official statement issued by the Civil Guard, it is stated: "All tests carried out at the moment indicate that the driver of the vehicle involved in the accident is Diogo Jota. The final expert report will be submitted to the court in Puebla de Sanabria."
Media reports say Jota and Silva were travelling to the UK by car after doctors advised the striker not to fly following a recent operation. Their vehicle veered off the road during an overtaking manoeuvre and burst into flames, suspected to have been caused by a tyre blowout.
In a new development, Javier Lopez Delgado, president of the Spanish Association of Road Safety Auditors (ASEVI), has stated that the condition of the road was also a key factor in the accident.
" It wasn't just the speed. The road surface had serious defects and it was the site of another serious accident just a few days ago. If they had been going 55 mph, they probably wouldn't have died," he told La Opinion de Zamora.
He added that the central barrier was also poorly designed, acting as a " deadly obstacle ".
Local residents and municipal authorities in Cernadilla, where the accident occurred, have described the area as extremely dangerous, due to sharp curves, poor visibility at night and wild animals that often collide with vehicles.
A local source said: “ Today it was two famous footballers, but tomorrow it could be anyone. The road is extremely dangerous. ”
Authorities are preparing the full technical and investigative report, which is expected to be submitted to the prosecution in the coming days. Meanwhile, fans and the football world continue to express their pain and condolences for the tragic loss of Diogo Jota, only 28 years old and a father of three, as well as his 25-year-old brother. (A2 Televizion)
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