Retracing Diogo Jota's tragic journey shows road plagued with hazards from shut lanes to wild deer ready to leap out

The Sun

2 days ago

DIOGO Jota's fateful last journey was fraught with hazards which could have contributed to the car smash tragedy - including wild deer on the highway.
The Sun retraced the route from the crash scene and found the A-52 highway poorly surfaced and dogged by miles of roadworks leading to the death smash scene.
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And we encountered two adult deer standing on a side road less than half a mile from the spot where the Liverpool ace's Lamborghini veered off the road and burst into flames.
What we know so far:
Jota was driving with his younger brother Andre in a hired £210,000 Lamborghini Huracan supercar from Portugal to the northern Spanish port of Santander.
But as soon as he crossed the border, his progress would have been slowed by at least 10 miles of road works.
His acid green Lamorghini left the highway a few minutes' drive after the end of a section of roadworks at 12.40pm local time on Thursday (11.40pm on Wednesday in the UK).
The speed limit on the section where the car crashed is 120kph - 74.5mph.
Spanish Guardia Civil investigators believe a tyre blowout could account for its fatal change of direction.
But deer could have also triggered a sudden swerve and are a constant hazard throughout this wild, forested region - as attested by warning signs along the route.
Spanish police said they were not actively considering the involvement of wild animals in the smash yesterday, but did not rule out the possibility.
'Heartbroken' Ronaldo leads tributes to Diogo Jota as football mourns Liverpool & Portugal star
Other animal hazards reported to have caused accidents in the area have included Iberian wolves roaming the carriageway and flocks of crows.
The Sun has also found that the stretch of the A-52 motorway where tragedy struck has generated more than 40 complaints about the poor condition of the road in just one month last year.
Potholes were worse on the Sanabria section, near the 65km marker point - the exact spot where the Jota car crashed.
A string of complaints to the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, responsible for maintaining the road, triggered urgent roadworks.
And at least one of the complaints was said to relate to a "damage accident" involving a private vehicle in which a Spanish family was travelling, three miles from the Jota smash.
The A52 - also known as the Rías Bajas dual carriageway - was a known accident blackspot before the Jota tragedy - due in part to its rugged terrain and wildlife.
A local source said of animals roaming the region: "They increase the danger of a road which already accounts for a large number of accidents in the Castile and Leon region.
"The authorities and the General Directorate of Traffic recommend that special care should always be taken on this particular road."
Spanish police were continuing to investigate the cause of the fatal crash last night after taking away the unrecognisable remains of the burned-out sports car.
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It comes as Jota's funerals began today, with close friends and family gathering to mourn the loss of the champion footballer.
Jota's grieving wife was consoled by relatives amid emotional scenes at his funeral chapel today.
Rute Cardoso - who married the Liverpool ace just 11 days earlier - arrived at Sao Cosme Chapel in his home town of Gondomar near Porto, northern Portugal, early this morning.
Local priest Jose Manuel Macedo initially announced the ceremonies would take place at 4pm on Friday before confirming they had been put back to Saturday morning.
Father Macedo said a wake would take place at Sao Cosme Chapel before the funeral mass on Saturday morning at the Catholic church next door - the Igreja Matriz de Gondomar.
Diogo Jota began his footballing career at a club in Gondomar and is also thought to have met his wife there.
In Portugal, wakes are usually held before the funeral service.
Crowds began gathering on Thursday night near the chapel - the Capela da Ressurreicao on the outskirts of Porto - and applauded as the brothers coffins arrived at 11.30pm.
Tributes have been flooding in since the horrific news, including from Jota's Portugal teammate Cristiano Ronaldo, former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp and current Reds boss Arne Slot.
Ronaldo said on Instagram: "It doesn't make sense. Just now we were together in the selection, you had gotten married now.
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"To your family, your wife and your children, I send my condolences and wish you all the strength in the world.
"I know you will always be with them. Rest in Peace, Diogo and André. We will all miss you."
Lionel Messi posted a touching image of Jota making a heart symbol with his hands with the message "QEPD" - short for the Spanish phrase "que en paz descanse" which translates to "may he rest in peace".
Liverpool's number nine, Darwin Nunez, shared an image of a beaming Jota coming on as a substitute for the Uruguayan last season.
The star striker said he will always remember Jota for his smile.
Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has shared his own statement on his "great friend".
The German, who signed Jota from Wolves for £45m in 2020, said on social media: "This is a moment where I struggle! There must be a bigger purpose, but I can't see it."
He continued: "Diogo was not only a fantastic player, but also a great friend, a loving and caring husband and father.
"We will miss you so much. All my prayers, thoughts and power to Rute, the kids, the family, the friends and everyone who loved them."
Fellow Liverpool icons such as Jamie Carragher, Steven Gerrard, Robbie Fowler and David James have all also paid their respects.
Carragher posted on Instagram: 'Absolutely devastated by the sad news about Diogo Jota. Thoughts are with his wife Rute and their three kids.'
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer added that Jota's death is "devastating news".
He told reporters today: "I'm sure I speak for everyone in saying our first thoughts are going to be with his family and his friends in particular.
"But there are millions of Liverpool fans, but also football fans, and non-fans, who will also be shocked by this."
A tribute to Diogo Jota
By Dan King, Sun Sports News Columnist
DIOGO Jota won every major honour in English football with Liverpool before a car crash cruelly cut short his life.
But the pain of Jota's death will also be felt particularly hard at Wolves, where he played a key role in the club's transformation, as well as in his native Portugal.
The versatile forward was part of the squad that won a second Nations League title last month.
And in the last fortnight, Jota had married long-term partner Rute Cardoso, with whom he had three children.
His sudden death at the age of 28, along with brother and fellow footballer Andre in an horrific accident, is heartbreaking.
Because Jota was not only a highly gifted footballer, he was also one of the good guys.
An intelligent, thoughtful man, who spoke English better than some natives and who dedicated himself to his career and family.
By helping Liverpool win the Premier League title last season, Jota completed the full set of domestic trophies after the Reds lifted the FA Cup and League Cup in 2021/22.
Although injury and competition for places restricted Jota's contribution, he still scored key goals as Arne Slot's side claimed a record-equalling 20th English championship.
What turned out to be the last of his 65 strikes for the Reds was the only goal in the Merseyside derby at Anfield in February.
It was typical Jota. While Everton defenders hesitated, the small but strong Portuguese forward bustled on to the ball, beat two men and buried the ball in the net.
Jota had bumps in the road before reaching the top of the game with Liverpool and Portugal.
After making his debut for Pacos de Ferreira at the age of 17, he moved to Atletico Madrid at 19.
But he soon went on loan to Porto, where he did well enough to attract the attention of ambitious Wolves, who were then in the Championship.
In his first season in England, he scored 17 league goals to fire the club back into the Premier League as champions.
Jota was a popular member of the dressing room which featured a strong Portuguese contingent.
He held his own in the top flight, but there was some surprise when Liverpool signed him in a deal worth up to £45m.
Yet in his five seasons at Anfield, he played an important role in the Reds' potent front four as the club claimed English honours and went close to European glory.
Jota scored 21 times as Jurgen Klopp's side hunted down a Quadruple in 2021/2, winning the domestic cups, taking the title race to the final day and losing the Champions League final to Real Madrid.
His total of 65 goals in 182 appearances does not tell the full story of his contribution on and off the field.
After coming close more than once, it was special for Jota finally to lift the Premier League trophy in May.
For Portugal, Jota was part of a generation that delivered glory.
He was uncapped when selected in the squad for the Nations League final stages on home soil in 2019 and did not feature, making his debut later in the year.
Jota would go on to score 14 in 49 appearances. His last was as an extra-time substitute in last month's Nations League final against Spain, which Portugal won on penalties.
That triumph was part of what was surely the best year of Jota's life. For it to have ended, in such terrible circumstances, is incomprehensible.