Just days before Liverpool star Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva tragically lost their lives in a horrific car crash in Spain, a woman nearly died in a separate accident at the same dangerous stretch of road, a route already known for its poor condition and history of serious incidents, according to expert.
The fatal accident occurred last Thursday along the A-52 highway near Zamora, close to Spain’s north-western border with Portugal.
Diogo and Andre, both professional footballers, were traveling in an acid green £180,000 Lamborghini Huracan when the vehicle crashed and caught fire, killing both men.
Though the Spanish Civil Guard has yet to confirm the vehicle’s exact speed, reports suggest the sports car was moving at high velocity when the crash happened.
A road safety expert, however, insists that excessive speed wasn’t the only factor.
President of the Spanish Association of Road Safety Auditors, Javier Lopez Delgado, examined the crash site and found alarming road conditions.
“You can clearly see it had many faults,” he noted, emphasizing that while the car’s speed played a role, the poor state of the road surface also significantly contributed.
Lopez Delgado told La Opinion de Zamora that several factors likely led to the deadly crash.
“If they had been going at 55mph they probably wouldn’t have been killed,” he said. “It seems very clear they were going very fast because of the skid marks.”
Authorities believe a tyre blowout occurred while the car was overtaking, which caused the Lamborghini to veer off-road and slam into the central reservation barrier.
The barrier itself, Lopez Delgado argued, was another hazard. “The length and angle of incidence were not correct,” he said, describing the barrier as more of an “obstacle” than a protective structure.
Adding weight to concerns over this stretch of highway, Lopez Delgado pointed out a near-fatal crash that took place at the same location just eight days earlier
A 60-year-old woman had to be rescued from her vehicle by firefighters after her own crash in that very spot.
“It could be a coincidence but I’m not a big believer in coincidences,” he said. “When two different cars come off the road at the same kilometre point something’s up.”
Local authorities in Cernadilla, a village with just over 100 residents, described that section of the A-52 as “very dangerous.” One town hall source told reporters: “As it passes through Cernadilla it is full of bends at 120 kilometres per hour. Exceeding the speed limit or poor visibility at night are often the cause of accidents in these areas. Today it was two famous footballers, who had a great career ahead of them, but perhaps tomorrow the victims will be two more anonymous people.”
Nicknamed the Rias Bajas motorway, the A-52 has long been known as an accident blackspot.
In addition to tight bends and visibility issues, wild animals such as Iberian wolves and deer frequently cross the road, leading to collisions.
In its initial statement, the Civil Guard said: “A road accident occurred this morning at 00.30 hours at kilometre 65 of the A52, in the municipality of Cernadilla, Zamora. A vehicle left the road, everything points to a tyre blowout while overtaking. As a result of the accident, the car caught fire and both occupants died. Pending the conclusion of the expert tests, the identification of one of the deceased is Diogo Jota, a Liverpool FC player, and his brother Andre Felipe.”
Diogo Jota, who had undergone lung surgery, was reportedly avoiding air travel and was en route to Santander to catch a ferry to the UK when the accident occurred.
He had just married his longtime partner, Rute Cardoso, on June 22, a joyful occasion now eclipsed by devastating tragedy.
Funeral services for the brothers were held in their hometown of Gondomar near Porto. Among the mourners were Liverpool players and Portugal national teammates who had attended a wake the previous day.
Financial records reveal that Jota left behind a considerable estate. According to MailOnline, his widow Rute and their three children, Dinis, four; Duarte, two; and eight-month-old Mafalda, could inherit up to £35 million.
Jota, who began earning £38,000 weekly at Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2018, went on to secure a lucrative contract with Liverpool that paid him £140,000 a week by 2022.
Over his Premier League career, he is believed to have earned about £34.4 million.
In addition to his football salary, Jota had endorsement deals with Nike and EA Sports that earned him £3.3 million annually.
He also launched his own Esports team, Luna Galaxy, and owned a luxury car collection valued at over £1 million, including a Porsche 911 Turbo S, Ferrari 488, Audi Q7, Mercedes-Benz G63AMG, and Range Rover Sport.
His estate also includes a five-bedroom, four-bathroom luxury home in Blundellsands, Liverpool, purchased in 2022 for £2,125,000.
The property features a 39ft indoor swimming pool, jacuzzi, steam room, cinema, and games room, as well as a high-end kitchen equipped with Gaggenau appliances and walnut cabinetry.
Jota had also founded Minute J Ltd, an image rights company set up in 2023. Its first financial report showed a profit of £186,754 but debts of nearly £50,000, largely in taxes.
“The Richest” website praised the late footballer’s financial acumen, noting: “He left behind a financial legacy few soccer players achieve so young. His business smart matched his on-field vision, he left behind a blueprint for how athletes can build wealthy and legacy beyond the pitch.”
The wedding, just 13 days before the accident, had been a “dream come true,” according to Rute. Diogo had declared himself “the luckiest man in the world” during the ceremony.
Tragically, many of those who celebrated with the couple were forced to reunite in mourning at the Igreja Matriz church for the funeral.
A somber service was led by the Bishop of Porto, D. Manuel Linda, who offered a heartfelt message to the couple’s children: “At this moment you are suffering immensely or perhaps not because you do not realise it.
The ones who suffer a lot are your mother and your grandparents. Seeing the mortal remains of a child must be a greater torment, but when there are two urns there are no words. If it is difficult to see an adult cry, it is even more difficult to see a child cry. I send you a special greeting for your mother and grandparents.”
Two priests led the funeral procession as both brothers’ coffins were carried into the church to the sound of violins and applause. Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk and Andrew Robertson, along with former teammates Jordan Henderson and James Milner, were among those present.
The brothers were nearly 200 miles into their journey from Porto to Santander when disaster struck. They have since been laid to rest in a peaceful cemetery framed by olive trees.
Former Wolves stars Joao Moutinho and Rui Patricio also paid their respects, carrying a floral tribute that read, “Diogo your desire to fight and win lit up Molineux.”
Portugal’s national team manager Roberto Martinez, visibly moved, said after the service, “I can only say that these are very, very sad days. Today was a demonstration for Diogo and Andre that we are all together and that we are Portugal. Now, I would like to thank everyone for their presence, for all the messages from all over the world. We are with Andre Silva and Diogo Jota. Always, always with us.”