BREAKING: Diogo Jota Confirmed as Driver in £185,000 Lamborghini Crash — Car Exploded Just 6.3 Seconds After Leaving the Road
Experts say the flames spread unusually fast, fueled by a ruptured line underneath the chassis.
BREAKING: Diogo Jota Confirmed as Driver in £185,000 Lamborghini Crash — Car Exploded Just 6.3 Seconds After Leaving the Road
On July 3, 2025, Liverpool footballer Diogo Jota, 28, and his brother André Silva, 25, were killed in a catastrophic crash on the A-52 motorway near Cernadilla, Zamora, Spain, when their £185,000 Lamborghini Huracán Evo Spyder veered off the road and burst into flames. The latest Spanish police report, released on July 8, 2025, confirms Jota was driving at the time of the accident, traveling at approximately 216 km/h (134 mph), far exceeding the 120 km/h (74.5 mph) speed limit. Telemetry data reveals the car exploded just 6.3 seconds after leaving the road, with experts attributing the rapid fire spread to a ruptured fuel line underneath the chassis. This article examines the updated findings, the role of the fuel line rupture, and the ongoing investigation into this tragic incident.
The Crash and Updated Police Findings
The accident occurred at 12:40 a.m. local time as Jota and Silva were traveling from Porto, Portugal, to Santander, Spain, to catch a ferry to the UK for Liverpool’s pre-season training. Jota, advised against flying due to recent lung surgery, was driving the Lamborghini Huracán Evo Spyder, a supercar capable of exceeding 325 km/h (202 mph) and accelerating from 0–60 mph in 3.1 seconds. The vehicle suffered a right front tire blowout while overtaking another car, causing it to yaw rightward, veer left into a crash barrier, flip, and ignite, killing both occupants.
The Guardia Civil’s preliminary report, supported by telemetry from the car’s electronic control unit (ECU), confirms Jota was driving, based on skid marks extending nearly 50 meters and forensic analysis of the wreckage. The report notes the car was traveling at approximately 216 km/h when the tire blew, consistent with earlier indications of excessive speed. In the final 2.3 seconds, Jota attempted to correct a rightward pull, but the steering system failed to respond adequately, likely due to the blowout’s destabilizing effect at high speed. The car left the road, flipped, and exploded 6.3 seconds later, as recorded by the ECU, with flames spreading rapidly to nearby vegetation.
The Ruptured Fuel Line and Rapid Fire Spread
Experts analyzing the wreckage, as reported by the Guardia Civil and corroborated by automotive specialists, attribute the fire’s intensity to a ruptured fuel line beneath the chassis. The Lamborghini Huracán Evo Spyder’s fuel system, located low in the vehicle for weight distribution, is vulnerable during high-impact crashes. The tire blowout and subsequent flip likely caused the chassis to strike the crash barrier, rupturing the fuel line and releasing high-pressure fuel. This fuel ignited almost instantly, possibly sparked by the crash’s friction or a pyrotechnic door-release system, leading to an explosion just 6.3 seconds after the car left the road.
The rapid fire spread, described as “unusually fast” by forensic experts, was exacerbated by the Huracán’s lightweight carbon-fiber and aluminum construction, which offered little resistance to the flames. Unlike the Huracán Sterrato, the Evo Spyder lacks run-flat tires, amplifying the loss of control post-blowout. The absence of a fire-suppression system, standard in some supercars, meant the fire engulfed the cabin before emergency services could respond, despite their arrival within minutes. Video footage from Diario de Castilla y León shows the torched wreckage, with debris scattered across the A-52, underscoring the fire’s destructive speed.
Investigation and Contributing Factors
The Guardia Civil, led by Zamora’s traffic police chief Alfonso Ibáñez, is finalizing a report for the courts in Puebla de Sanabria, focusing on speed, the tire blowout, and potential mechanical faults. The telemetry data confirms the 216 km/h speed and the 6.3-second timeline from road departure to explosion. Investigators are examining whether the fuel line’s design or prior wear contributed to the rupture, though no specific recalls for the Huracán Evo Spyder’s fuel system have been noted. Previous Lamborghini recalls for door unlatching and seat belt systems are unrelated but highlight ongoing safety concerns with high-performance vehicles.
The A-52’s road conditions, criticized by road safety expert Javier Lopez Delgado for “many faults” like potholes, may have contributed to the tire blowout, though police maintain the road is not an accident “black spot” and should be drivable even above the speed limit. A near-fatal crash involving a 60-year-old woman on the same stretch days earlier has fueled scrutiny of the highway’s maintenance. The investigation is also exploring the pyrotechnic door-release system, which may have activated during the flip, potentially sparking the fuel or compromising structural integrity, though its exact role remains unclear.
Systemic Implications and Industry Response
The crash raises broader concerns about supercar safety, particularly the vulnerability of fuel systems in high-speed impacts and the absence of run-flat tires on models like the Huracán Evo Spyder. The rapid fire spread underscores the need for enhanced fire-suppression systems and crash-resistant fuel line designs. If the investigation finds fault with the Lamborghini’s engineering, it could prompt the European Union to tighten crash testing protocols for luxury vehicles, as suggested by industry experts.
Lamborghini has expressed condolences but withheld comment on mechanical issues pending the investigation’s outcome. The football community continues to mourn, with tributes from Liverpool FC, Cristiano Ronaldo, and fans at Anfield, where floral arrangements and scarves honor Jota’s No. 20 and Silva’s No. 30. The funeral in Gondomar, Portugal, on July 5, saw Liverpool players Virgil van Dijk and Andy Robertson carry floral tributes, reflecting the profound loss.
A Tragic Loss and Path Forward
Jota, a Premier League and Nations League winner, leaves behind his wife, Rute Cardoso, married just 11 days earlier, and three young children. His brother André, a Penafiel player, was his only sibling. The telemetry’s confirmation of Jota’s high speed, the tire blowout, and the fuel line rupture paints a tragic picture: a momentary loss of control amplified by catastrophic mechanical failure. The 6.3-second explosion timeline underscores the speed of the disaster, leaving no chance for escape.
As the Guardia Civil finalizes its report, the focus remains on improving road safety, supercar design, and medical travel advisories for athletes. The crash, a devastating blow to Jota’s family and the football world, demands rigorous reforms to prevent future tragedies, ensuring the brothers’ legacy endures through safer roads and vehicles.
