Road where Diogo Jota died ‘very dangerous' and full of potholes
The stretch of A-52 motorway, where the Liverpool striker's Lamborghini careered off the road after blowing a tyre, generated more than 40 complaints over its poor condition in just one month last year.
• Diogo Jota, Liverpool footballer, dies in car accident aged 28
Potholes were reportedly worse on a section of road only miles from the crash site.
The Spanish ministry of transport, which is responsible for maintaining the road, launched urgent roadworks after receiving a string of complaints about its condition, according to the local newspaper La Opinion de Zamora.
One motorist told the authorities that 'material damage' had been caused by accidents involving a vehicle carrying a Spanish family, about three miles from the site of Jota's fatal crash on Thursday.
Wild deer are also known to roam freely near the motorway. Two of the animals were spotted standing on a side road about half a mile away from the crash site last night.
• Diogo Jota's death resonates so powerfully because of the joy he gave
Spanish police are continuing their investigations into the cause of the death of Jota, 28, and his brother, André Silva, 25.
The brothers were driving the hired £210,000 Lamborghini Huracan on route to the northern Spanish port of Santander, when they crashed in the early hours of Thursday morning.
Their progress would have been slowed by at least ten miles of roadworks on the A-52, with sections of the highway coned off to a single lane.
The crash happened in the tiny municipality of Cernadilla, which is home to only about 100 people.
A town hall official told local press on Thursday: 'The news here has hit us like a ton of bricks. It seems that in the small municipalities tragedies like these always have to happen.'
He also described the A-52 highway as 'very dangerous'. Town hall sources said: 'As it passes through Cernadilla it is full of bends. 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.'
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Daily Mail
a day ago
- Daily Mail
Portugal release touching Diogo Jota tribute video after the Liverpool star's death at 28
Portugal released a moving tribute video after Diogo Jota 's death, which included highlights of his career and moments off the pitch with the national team. Jota, 28, and his brother Andre, 26 - also a footballer, who played for Portuguese second division side Penafiel - both died on Thursday following a tragic car crash in Spain. His Lamborghini Huracan had a tyre blow out while he attempted to overtake another vehicle on the A-52 at Cernadilla near Zamora - just ten miles over the border from Portugal. The football world have joined together in paying their respects to the Liverpool star, whose funeral was held in his hometown Gomorah in Portugal on Saturday morning. The national team shared a video across their social media accounts, captioned: 'You will always be remembered. Rest in peace, Diogo Jota.' It culminated with a clip of Jota lifting the UEFA Nations League trophy, which he won with Portugal against Spain last month. Serás para sempre recordado. Descansa em paz, Diogo Jota. 🤍 You will always be remembered. Rest in peace, Diogo Jota. 🤍 — Portugal (@selecaoportugal) July 5, 2025 After making his senior debut for Portugal in 2019, Jota made 49 appearances for his country, scoring 14 goals. The details of Jota's crash have been thoroughly documented in its aftermath. Jota's car is said to have rolled and burst into flames, with emergency services unable to save him and his brother. No other vehicles were involved, police said. The siblings were heading to Santander to catch a ferry to Britain after Diogo was advised not to fly following lung surgery, it was reported in his home country. Emergency services in the Castilla and Leon region confirmed the crash and two fatalities at around 12.35am on Thursday. Diogo and Andre's deaths were then confirmed by the Portuguese Football Federation at around 8am. Jota's death sent shockwaves through the footballing world and fans have gathered in their hundreds to lay and offer their condolences. Tributes from all over have poured in since Jota's tragic accident, with the sport's biggest names - such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi - leading the testimonials. The tragedy came just days after Jota married his new wife Rute Cardoso - who he shares three young children with - on June 22. On Friday, hundreds of mourners lined the streets of Gondomar to pay their final respects to Jota at the city's chapel. Fans snaked around the Portuguese principality as the tearful crowd queued to honour the Premier League hero before his funeral. Mourners sobbed and carried roses and national team scarves in homage to Jota, who won the UEFA Nations League with Portugal less than a month ago. Aerial footage showed queues stretching from the small chapel, around the corner to the nearby church where his funeral will be held. Jota's heartbroken wife and parents gathered at a wake and held a vigil at the coffins of the former Wolves striker and his brother Andre. The town overlooking Porto is where the couple met and started dating as teenagers. They married two weeks ago and have three young children. Diogo and Andre's mother Isabel, father Joaquim and their grandfather were emotional on arriving at the chapel. Joaquim hugged several people and was supported by his brother and later raised a hand to mourners as he left with his wife. They returned around an hour later. Portugal's Prime Minister Luis Montenegro also attended the wake along with Jota's agent Jorge Mendes. The President of Portugal, Marcelo de Sousa, came later. The wake got underway on Friday afternoon ahead of funeral mass in the neighbouring church - the Igrega Matriz de Gondomar - at 10am on Saturday. Many big names attended Jota's funeral, including some of his Portugal team-mates and the Liverpool squad. Ex-Liverpool club captain Jordan Henderson and James Milner had joined their former team-mates. Members of Liverpool's hierarchy were in attendance, including FSG's chief executive of football Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes, sporting director. Family and friends were seen in tears as they carried their coffins into the church. Distraught loved ones, including Jota's wife Rute Cardoso, were seen walking through the the brothers' hometown of Gondomar in tears while other distraught mourners were being held up as they walked. Only family and friends are allowed inside the church, however a livestream with audio of the service, lead by the Bishop of Porto, will be played outside to thousands of mourners who are expected to line the streets to pay their respects. Ruben Neves, who played alongside Jota with Wolves and Portugal, and Joao Cancelo both made transatlantic trips in order to attend the ceremony. Liverpool manager Arne Slot, centre, was solemn as he attended the funeral service The coffins of Jota and Andre Silva were brought into the Igreja Matriz de Gondomar Members of the brothers' family carry their coffins into the church ahead of the service On Friday night, Neves and Cancelo had played at the Club World Cup in the United States for Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal.
Glasgow Times
a day ago
- Glasgow Times
Liverpool players and boss arrive in Portugal to attend Diogo Jota's funeral
Reds manager Arne Slot, captain Virgil van Dijk, defender Andrew Robertson, midfielder Alexis Mac Allister and former team-mates Jordan Henderson and James Milner could be seen in Portugal, along with Manchester City's Ruben Dias and Bernardo Silva and national team boss Roberto Martinez. The father-of-three, who married his long-term partner Rute Cardoso 11 days before the accident, was killed alongside his brother Andre Silva after a Lamborghini they were travelling in burst into flames following a suspected tyre blowout in the early hours of Thursday morning. The players, who also included Curtis Jones, Federico Chiesa, Wataru Endo and former Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher, arrived at the Portuguese chapel to applause from crowds standing nearby. The funeral began at 10am on Saturday, according to parish priest at the Igreja Matriz de Gondomar in Sao Cosme, Jose Manuel Macedo. It comes after family and friends gathered for the brothers' wake on Friday, with a queue forming outside the Portuguese chapel. The brothers' parents attended the Sao Cosme Chapel, the Capela da Ressurreicao, in the town of Gondomar near Porto on Friday, with Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, Prime Minister Luis Montenegro and Jota's agent also among attendees. Jordan Henderson and James Milner leave the funeral of Diogo Jota (PA) People held service sheets featuring pictures of both brothers, the largest one showing Jota smiling in his Liverpool shirt and making a heart sign with his hands. Liverpool postponed the return of players for pre-season following Jota's death, as a number of players past and present paid tribute. A sea of floral tributes had been left outside Anfield, with many Liverpool fans and supporters of other clubs looking to pay their respects. Flags have been lowered to half-mast at the stadium and all club stores, museums and tours have been closed until Monday, with staff offered wellbeing support. Jota and Silva were both found dead after the car crashed on the A-52 in Palacios de Sanabria near the city of Zamora at 12.40am on Thursday. Tributes left at Anfield, home of Liverpool, in memory of Jota (Peter Byrne/PA) Police said they were investigating the possibility that the Lamborghini left the road because of a tyre blowout while overtaking, and a source from the government sub-delegation in Zamora confirmed 'a possible speeding incident' was being looked at. Pictures of the aftermath of the crash showed debris scattered along the side of the road including what appeared to be charred parts of the vehicle. No other vehicles are said to have been involved in the incident.
Leader Live
a day ago
- Leader Live
Liverpool players and boss arrive in Portugal to attend Diogo Jota's funeral
Reds manager Arne Slot, captain Virgil van Dijk, defender Andrew Robertson, midfielder Alexis Mac Allister and former team-mates Jordan Henderson and James Milner could be seen in Portugal, along with Manchester City's Ruben Dias and Bernardo Silva and national team boss Roberto Martinez. The father-of-three, who married his long-term partner Rute Cardoso 11 days before the accident, was killed alongside his brother Andre Silva after a Lamborghini they were travelling in burst into flames following a suspected tyre blowout in the early hours of Thursday morning. The players, who also included Curtis Jones, Federico Chiesa, Wataru Endo and former Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher, arrived at the Portuguese chapel to applause from crowds standing nearby. The funeral began at 10am on Saturday, according to parish priest at the Igreja Matriz de Gondomar in Sao Cosme, Jose Manuel Macedo. It comes after family and friends gathered for the brothers' wake on Friday, with a queue forming outside the Portuguese chapel. The brothers' parents attended the Sao Cosme Chapel, the Capela da Ressurreicao, in the town of Gondomar near Porto on Friday, with Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, Prime Minister Luis Montenegro and Jota's agent also among attendees. People held service sheets featuring pictures of both brothers, the largest one showing Jota smiling in his Liverpool shirt and making a heart sign with his hands. Liverpool postponed the return of players for pre-season following Jota's death, as a number of players past and present paid tribute. A sea of floral tributes had been left outside Anfield, with many Liverpool fans and supporters of other clubs looking to pay their respects. Flags have been lowered to half-mast at the stadium and all club stores, museums and tours have been closed until Monday, with staff offered wellbeing support. Jota and Silva were both found dead after the car crashed on the A-52 in Palacios de Sanabria near the city of Zamora at 12.40am on Thursday. Police said they were investigating the possibility that the Lamborghini left the road because of a tyre blowout while overtaking, and a source from the government sub-delegation in Zamora confirmed 'a possible speeding incident' was being looked at. Pictures of the aftermath of the crash showed debris scattered along the side of the road including what appeared to be charred parts of the vehicle. No other vehicles are said to have been involved in the incident.
