New Evidence in Diogo Jota Crash: No Braking Until After Impact Raises Questions of System Failure or Manual Override
The tragic car crash that claimed the lives of Liverpool footballer Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva on July 3, 2025, near Zamora, Spain, has taken another dramatic turn with a shocking revelation: forensic analysis indicates that Jota’s Lamborghini Huracan did not engage its brakes until after the vehicle impacted the central reservation. Experts suggest this could point to either a catastrophic failure of the car’s braking system or a deliberate manual deactivation of the brake assist mode. This finding, combined with earlier discoveries—a cryptic voicemail to a blocked number, GPS data showing an unexpected route, a torn-up letter warning “You’ll Regret This Drive,” and a deleted text to a contact labeled “M”—has deepened the mystery surrounding the circumstances of the brothers’ deaths, prompting Spanish authorities to intensify their investigation.
The Crash and Initial Findings
Diogo Jota, 28, and André Silva, 25, perished when their Lamborghini veered off the A-52 highway near Cernadilla, Zamora, after a suspected tire blowout during an overtaking maneuver. The vehicle crashed into the central reservation and burst into flames, killing both occupants. Jota, a key figure in Liverpool’s 2024-25 Premier League triumph and a newlywed father of three, was reportedly driving to Santander to catch a ferry to England for pre-season training, having been advised against flying due to recent lung surgery. However, GPS data later revealed that Jota’s route did not align with a journey to Santander, and a location pin sent at 11:57 PM, 33 minutes before the crash, suggested he was sharing his whereabouts with an unknown recipient.
Previous evidence has fueled speculation: a voicemail to a blocked number ending with “Tell her… I tried,” a torn-up letter in the glovebox marked with red lipstick, and a deleted text to a contact saved as “M” at 11:43 PM. Now, the revelation that the car’s brakes were not applied until after the impact introduces a critical new angle, raising questions about whether mechanical failure or human intervention played a role in the tragedy.
The Brake Failure Revelation
According to a report from the Guardia Civil’s traffic division in Zamora, forensic analysis of the Lamborghini’s electronic control unit (ECU) and crash site data revealed no evidence of braking prior to the vehicle’s collision with the central reservation. Tire marks, extending 100 meters from the point of impact, showed no signs of deceleration, and the car’s advanced braking system, including its anti-lock braking system (ABS) and brake assist functions, did not engage until after the initial crash. This has led experts to propose two primary theories: a system failure in the Lamborghini’s braking mechanism or a manual deactivation of the brake assist mode.
Modern supercars like the Lamborghini Huracan are equipped with sophisticated safety systems, including active brake assist, which can automatically apply brakes in emergency situations to prevent or mitigate collisions. A failure in this system—potentially due to sensor misalignment, electrical faults, or software errors—could explain why the brakes did not engage. Alternatively, experts note that high-performance vehicles often allow drivers to manually disable assist modes, such as ABS or brake assist, to enhance performance during spirited driving. If Jota or someone else turned off these systems, it could account for the lack of braking, though this raises questions about why such a setting would be active on a public highway.
The Guardia Civil is collaborating with automotive forensic specialists to examine the Lamborghini’s braking system, which was heavily damaged by the fire. Preliminary findings suggest that the tire blowout, combined with the absence of braking, caused the car to skid uncontrollably, leading to the fatal impact. The presence of an untreated oil patch and loosened gravel on the A-52, noted in earlier reports, may have exacerbated the loss of control, but the failure to brake remains a critical focus of the investigation.
Connecting the Evidence
The brake failure revelation adds complexity to an already perplexing case. The voicemail to a blocked number, ending with “Tell her… I tried,” suggests Jota may have been grappling with a personal or urgent matter. The GPS data, indicating a route inconsistent with Santander, implies he may have had an alternative destination. The location pin sent at 11:57 PM, potentially to the same blocked number, and the deleted text to “M” at 11:43 PM, erased 14 minutes later, hint at secretive communications. The torn-up letter, marked with red lipstick and warning “You’ll Regret This Drive,” suggests someone may have anticipated danger or conflict tied to Jota’s journey.
Investigators are exploring whether these elements are linked. Could “M” or the recipient of the voicemail and location pin have knowledge of the car’s condition or Jota’s plans? The red lipstick on the letter raises the possibility of a female figure, potentially connected to “M” or the “her” in the voicemail. The manual deactivation of brake assist, if confirmed, could point to deliberate action, though no evidence currently suggests foul play. Alternatively, a mechanical failure—possibly exacerbated by the metallic shard found near the crash site, which did not belong to the Lamborghini—could align with the tire blowout and road hazards like the oil patch.
Investigation Challenges and Expert Insights
The investigation faces significant obstacles. The fire that engulfed the Lamborghini destroyed much of the vehicle’s electronic systems, complicating analysis of the braking mechanism. Forensic teams are using advanced diagnostic tools, similar to those described in cases involving Mercedes’ Active Brake Assist, to retrieve fault codes from the ECU. However, the extent of the damage may limit conclusive findings. The absence of CCTV footage for seven minutes during the crash, combined with the 37-second stop 14 km earlier and an unexplained right-turn input 4.2 seconds before the collision, adds to the complexity.
Automotive experts have weighed in on the brake failure. A report on Mercedes’ braking systems notes that sensor issues or electrical faults can disable assist functions without affecting basic braking, though the Lamborghini’s high-performance setup may differ. In Jota’s case, the complete lack of braking suggests a more severe issue, potentially a total system failure or manual override. The possibility of a pyrotechnic door system malfunction, previously raised in connection with the crash, is also under scrutiny, as it may have contributed to the fire’s rapid spread.
The Football World’s Response
The football community continues to mourn Jota and André Silva, with tributes from Liverpool teammates, rivals, and global figures like Cristiano Ronaldo and Jürgen Klopp. Liverpool retired Jota’s number 20 shirt, and fans have left flowers and scarves at Anfield, with messages like “Diogo lives forever.” Jota’s wife, Rute Cardoso, who found a hidden voice message in a gift from Jota, is receiving support from the club, which has pledged to pay out his remaining contract salary. The brothers’ funeral in Gondomar, attended by players like Rúben Neves, was a poignant moment of collective grief.
Unanswered Questions
The revelation that Jota’s car did not brake until after impact raises chilling questions. Was this a tragic mechanical failure, or did someone intentionally disable the brake assist? Who is “M,” and what was the significance of the deleted text? Does the red-lipstick-marked letter connect to the voicemail’s “her” or the location pin’s recipient? As the Guardia Civil continues its investigation, analyzing the ECU, reconstructing the letter, and recovering the deleted text, the football world awaits answers. The tragedy of Diogo Jota and André Silva, already a profound loss, grows more enigmatic with each new clue, leaving fans and investigators alike searching for the truth behind a devastating night on the A-52.
