BREAKING: Dashcam Confirms Diogo Jota’s Huracán Was Cruising at 119 km/h — Below the Danger Zone, Yet Fatal on A-52’s Crumbling Curve
On July 3, 2025, at approximately 12:30 a.m., Portuguese footballer Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva died in a fiery crash on Spain’s A-52 highway near Cernadilla, Zamora. Their Lamborghini Huracán EVO Spyder veered off a notorious 35-degree curve after a tire blowout, exacerbated by a 1.4-second delay in braking and the road’s unlit, crumbling tarmac, unmaintained for 11 years. New evidence from a truck driver’s dashcam, released on July 15, 2025, confirms the Huracán was traveling at just 119 km/h (74 mph)—within the A-52’s 120 km/h speed limit and far below the car’s danger zone—challenging initial speculation of excessive speed. This article analyzes the dashcam evidence, the Huracán’s performance, the A-52’s deadly conditions, and the implications for road safety and supercar design.
Dashcam Evidence: A New Perspective on Speed
The dashcam footage, captured by Portuguese truck driver José Azevedo and shared widely on X, shows Jota’s Huracán during an overtaking maneuver moments before the crash. Forensic analysis of the video confirms the car was cruising at 119 km/h, aligning with Azevedo’s earlier claim that Jota was not speeding excessively. This speed, just below the A-52’s legal limit, refutes initial Guardia Civil reports suggesting Jota was driving significantly faster. The footage, recorded on the unlit grade 4 descent, captures the Huracán’s taillights before it disappears around the 35-degree curve, followed by a flash of flames.
Telemetry data previously revealed the Huracán hit peak torque of 600 Nm at 5,000 rpm 6.2 seconds before the crash, indicating acceleration during the overtake, but the dashcam confirms Jota had stabilized at 119 km/h by the time he approached the curve. The 1.4-second braking delay—covering roughly 46 meters at this speed—meant the car entered the curve too fast for its compromised state after a rear tire blowout, likely caused by the road’s deteriorated tarmac.
The Huracán: Precision Meets Peril
The Lamborghini Huracán EVO Spyder is engineered for smooth asphalt, boasting a 5.2-liter V10 engine with 640 horsepower, carbon-ceramic brakes, and Pirelli P Zero tires optimized for tracks like the Nürburgring. Its braking system can stop the car from 100 km/h in 31 meters, and its Aerodinamica Lamborghini Attiva (ALA) system enhances stability at high speeds. However, at 119 km/h, the rear-wheel-drive Huracán was vulnerable to the tire blowout, which destabilized its handling on the steep, uneven descent. The lack of run-flat tires, unlike those on the Huracán Sterrato, meant the blowout caused immediate loss of control, exacerbated by the late braking.
The dashcam evidence suggests Jota was driving responsibly, not pushing the Huracán to its 325 km/h potential. Yet, the car’s design, tailored for pristine surfaces, couldn’t cope with the A-52’s crumbling tarmac, last resurfaced in 2014. The 100-meter skid marks indicate Jota’s struggle to regain control, but the combination of the blowout, late braking, and road conditions led to the car rolling and igniting.
The A-52’s Deadly Curve: A History of Neglect
The 35-degree curve at kilometer 65, a grade 4 descent with a 7–10% slope, is a known hazard, having claimed three prior fatal accidents in the past five years, none reported nationally due to their local victims. The road’s tarmac, riddled with potholes and cracks, has not been resurfaced in 11 years, with 40 pothole complaints filed in 2024 alone. The unlit, unsigned curve, coupled with recurrent fog and wildlife crossings, creates a lethal environment, especially at night. Local expert Javier Lopez Delgado called the road “a disaster waiting to happen,” noting that its condition could trigger tire failures even at moderate speeds.
The A-52’s reputation as one of Spain’s deadliest roads is backed by 2023 data showing 19 accidents with an average of 1.5 fatalities each. The lack of maintenance and signage, combined with the curve’s sharp angle and steep gradient, made 119 km/h—while legal—too fast for a supercar with a compromised tire. The dashcam footage underscores how even cautious driving couldn’t overcome the road’s inherent dangers.
Why 119 km/h Wasn’t Safe Enough
Despite being below the “danger zone” for a Huracán, 119 km/h proved fatal due to multiple factors:
Tire Blowout: The A-52’s degraded tarmac likely caused the rear tire failure, destabilizing the Huracán’s rear-wheel-drive system. Non-run-flat tires offered no buffer, leading to immediate oversteer.
Late Braking: The 1.4-second delay in applying the carbon-ceramic brakes meant Jota entered the curve at full speed, with insufficient time to slow down on the steep descent.
Road Conditions: The unlit, unsigned curve and 11-year-old tarmac amplified the blowout’s impact, offering no warning or traction for recovery.
Driver Response: Jota, not a professional racer, may have been unprepared for the sudden loss of control, despite his likely familiarity with the car.
The dashcam’s confirmation of 119 km/h shifts blame from driver error to systemic road failures, highlighting the A-52’s inadequacy for any vehicle, let alone a supercar.
Implications for Safety and Accountability
The dashcam evidence demands a reevaluation of rural road safety and supercar design. The A-52’s neglect—evident in its unreported fatal history and lack of resurfacing—requires urgent action: resurfacing, lighting, signage, and barriers. Spain’s transport ministry, under pressure after Jota’s high-profile death, has launched an investigation, but locals demand federal investment to address the A-52’s chronic issues.
For supercars, the crash exposes vulnerabilities in real-world conditions. Manufacturers like Lamborghini could adopt run-flat tires, enhanced tire-monitoring systems, or advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) to mitigate blowout risks. Driver training programs, emphasizing emergency handling, could also prepare owners for unpredictable scenarios. The Huracán’s prowess on smooth asphalt was no match for the A-52’s crumbling reality, underscoring the need for vehicles to adapt to diverse environments.
A Tragedy That Could Have Been Prevented
Diogo Jota, a 28-year-old Liverpool star with 65 goals in 182 appearances, and André Silva, a 25-year-old Penafiel midfielder, left behind a grieving family, including Jota’s wife and three children. Their deaths, mourned by football icons like Cristiano Ronaldo and Virgil van Dijk, have spotlighted the A-52’s deadly curve, which claimed three unreported lives before them.
The dashcam’s revelation that Jota was cruising at 119 km/h—far from reckless—shifts focus to the A-52’s crumbling tarmac and systemic neglect. The Huracán, built to dance on smooth asphalt, met a road unfit for any vehicle. As investigations continue, this tragedy must drive change: better roads, safer cars, and accountability for overlooked rural hazards, ensuring no more lives are lost on this deadly stretch.
