The investigation into the accident that tragically ended the lives of Liverpool footballer Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva has presented its first conclusions, according to Spanish newspaper El Mundo. The preliminary report from the Traffic Brigade in the Zamora region identifies two key factors: a possible issue with one of the car tires and excessive speed.

Diogo Jota Was Driving Over the Speed Limit

Experts confirmed that Diogo Jota was driving the vehicle at the time of the crash. The tragic incident occurred at kilometer 65 of the A-52 highway in the province of Zamora, Spain, around 12:35 a.m. local time, near the municipality of Cernadilla.

According to ABC and other Spanish media outlets, the accident was triggered by a tire blowout while the car was overtaking another vehicle. However, "all signs also point to possible speeding" over the legal limit for that road.

Sources close to the investigation stated that the Lamborghini Huracán was traveling faster than the permitted 120 km/h. This was considered “excessive speed” based on analysis of the tire marks left on the road.

Preliminary Report: Investigation Still Ongoing

The report is still preliminary and not yet finalized, and the investigation will continue. Once completed, it will be submitted to the court of Puebla de Sanabria.

It’s important to note that Jota was driving from Portugal to England to rejoin Liverpool ahead of preseason. Due to a recent lung surgery, the player opted not to fly and instead chose to travel by road and ferry.

The first report came verbally from the Civil Guard. They explained:

“The vehicle, a Lamborghini, crashed and went off the road due to a tire blowout while overtaking.”

The car caught fire after veering off the road, killing both occupants. The bodies were identified using documents that survived the blaze and the vehicle's license plate.

Identification and Family Reaction

According to Diario de Castilla y León, it was a family member who first raised the alarm, as the brothers had failed to arrive in Benavente at the expected time. Their plan was to reach Santander and continue to Portsmouth, England, by ferry.

Jota wife, Rute Cardoso whom he had married just days earlier was the one who identified the bodies. She was given psychological support and received the personal belongings recovered from the burned vehicle.

Vehicle Details and Road Conditions

The Lamborghini Huracán involved in the crash was an Evo model, sold between 2019 and 2023. It came in two versions: an all-wheel drive model with 639 horsepower and a rear-wheel drive version with 610 horsepower. Both versions can reach a top speed of 325 km/h and go from 0 to 100 km/h in 2.9 or 3.3 seconds, respectively. Images from the scene suggest the car was likely the convertible version.

The crash prompted the involvement of road safety experts. Javier López Delgado, president of the Association of Road Safety Auditors (Asevi), explained that several elements contributed to the fatal outcome, including speed, road conditions, and the median barrier.

“The vehicle's speed was very high, as evidenced by the braking marks. The pavement had flaws that reduced tire grip, and the median guardrail, due to its position and angle, may have acted more as a hazard than a safety feature,” said López Delgado.

A Global Shock in the Football World

The football world was rocked by the tragedy. Thousands of fans visited Liverpool Anfield stadium to leave floral tributes. During the funeral in Gondomar, Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk led the club’s delegation, laying a wreath shaped like Jota number 20 shirt. Andy Robertson brought another wreath with the number 30, in honor of André Silva, who played for Penafiel in Portugal second division.

Also in attendance were manager Arne Slot, Alexis Mac Allister, and former teammates like Jordan Henderson and James Milner.

The investigation into the tragic death of the Premier League champion and his brother will continue as authorities work to determine all the factors involved in the accident.