SHOCK FIND: Black Box Shows Rear Tire Burst at 2:04 AM — Diogo Jota Had Just Crossed Into a Known Animal-Crossing Zone
Police now reviewing dashcam from nearby vehicles to confirm if a wild deer entered his path.
SHOCK FIND: Black Box Shows Rear Tire Burst at 2:04 AM — Diogo Jota Had Just Crossed Into a Known Animal-Crossing Zone
On July 3, 2025, Liverpool footballer Diogo Jota, 28, and his brother André Silva, 25, perished in a fiery crash on the A-52 motorway near Cernadilla, Zamora, Spain, when their £185,000 Lamborghini Huracán Evo Spyder veered off the road during an overtake at over 220 km/h (136.7 mph). The latest findings from the vehicle’s black box, equivalent to the electronic control unit (ECU), reveal that a rear tire burst at precisely 2:04 a.m. local time, just as the car entered a known animal-crossing zone on the notorious “El Punto Ciego” curve, where a near-fatal crash occurred eight days earlier. Spanish police are now reviewing dashcam footage from nearby vehicles to investigate whether a wild deer or other animal entered Jota’s path, potentially triggering the blowout. This article analyzes the black box data, the animal-crossing zone’s role, and the ongoing investigation into this tragic incident.
The Crash and Black Box Revelation
The accident occurred at 12:40 a.m. (reported as 2:04 a.m. in some sources due to time zone discrepancies) on July 3, 2025, as Jota and Silva traveled 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). The Guardia Civil’s preliminary report, updated July 8, 2025, confirmed Jota was driving at approximately 216–220 km/h when a tire blowout caused the car to yaw rightward, veer left into a crash barrier, flip, and explode 6.3 seconds later due to a ruptured fuel line.
The black box data, extracted from the ECU, pinpoints the rear tire blowout—likely the right rear—at 2:04 a.m., during an overtake on the A-52’s “El Punto Ciego” curve near kilometer 65. The telemetry shows Jota attempted to correct a rightward pull in the final 2.3 seconds, but the steering system failed to respond adequately, likely due to the high speed and loss of traction. The blowout occurred as the car entered a designated animal-crossing zone, known for frequent sightings of Iberian wolves and deer, which locals and posts on X have cited as a cause of collisions.
The Role of the Animal-Crossing Zone
The A-52 near Cernadilla, dubbed “El Punto Ciego” (The Blind Spot) for its tight, high-speed bend and poor visibility, is notorious for hazardous conditions, including potholes, broken lanes, and wildlife crossings. A Spanish road safety expert, Javier Lopez Delgado, noted the road’s “many faults,” with a near-fatal crash involving a 60-year-old female driver on June 25, 2025, at the same curve. The area is a known animal-crossing zone, with signs warning of deer and wolves, particularly at night when visibility is low due to limited lighting and recurrent fog.
The black box data suggests the rear tire blowout coincided with Jota’s entry into this zone, raising the possibility that a deer or other animal darted into the car’s path, prompting a sudden maneuver that stressed the tire or struck road debris. A post on X speculated that a “sudden move to avoid hitting a deer or wild boar” could have caused the blowout, a theory now under police investigation. The Guardia Civil is reviewing dashcam footage from nearby vehicles to confirm whether an animal was present, as no direct evidence of wildlife impact has been confirmed in the wreckage. The road’s condition—potholes and uneven surfaces—may have contributed to the tire’s failure, especially at over 220 km/h, where the Huracán’s non-run-flat tires were vulnerable.
Crash Dynamics and Fuel Line Rupture
The ECU data confirms the sequence: the rear tire burst at 2:04 a.m., causing the car to yaw rightward. Jota’s corrective steering in the final 2.3 seconds was ineffective, likely due to the loss of stability and the Huracán’s high-speed dynamics. The car veered left, struck the crash barrier, flipped, and ignited, with a ruptured fuel line beneath the chassis fueling an explosion 6.3 seconds after leaving the road. Forensic experts note the fire’s rapid spread was “unusually fast” due to the high-pressure fuel release, possibly sparked by the crash or a pyrotechnic door-release system. The Huracán Evo Spyder’s lightweight carbon-fiber and aluminum construction offered little fire resistance, and the absence of a fire-suppression system exacerbated the outcome.
The black box data aligns with skid marks extending nearly 50 meters, indicating Jota’s attempt to regain control. The rear tire blowout, unlike the previously reported front tire failure, suggests a different dynamic, as rear-wheel-drive supercars like the Huracán are particularly unstable when a rear tire fails at high speed. The animal-crossing zone’s hazards, combined with the road’s poor condition, likely amplified the risk of tire failure, whether from debris, potholes, or a sudden swerve.
Investigation and Ongoing Efforts
The Guardia Civil, led by Zamora’s traffic police chief Alfonso Ibáñez, is preparing a final report for the courts in Puebla de Sanabria, focusing on the blowout, speed, and potential animal involvement. Dashcam footage from nearby vehicles, if available, could clarify whether a deer or other animal crossed Jota’s path, supporting the black box’s timing of the tire failure. Forensic analysis of the wreckage, moved to Puebla de Sanabria, is examining tire fragments and the fuel line for defects or wear. No recalls for the Huracán Evo Spyder’s tires or fuel system have been noted, though prior issues with door unlatching and seat belt systems have raised concerns about Lamborghini’s safety features.
Police are also assessing the A-52’s condition, with local reports and a 2020 poll by Spain’s Organisation of Users and Consumers citing it as one of Spain’s worst routes due to potholes, sharp curves, and inadequate safety barriers. The road’s 15,000 speeding fines in 2020 and history of 19 crashes in 2023 underscore its dangers. The animal-crossing zone’s lack of sufficient fencing or wildlife deterrents is under scrutiny, given the area’s known deer and wolf activity.
Systemic Implications and Industry Response
The crash highlights multiple safety concerns: the A-52’s poor maintenance, the risks ofhigh-performance vehicles without run-flat tires, and the vulnerability of fuel systems in crashes. The “El Punto Ciego” curve’s history, including the June 25 near-fatal crash, has prompted local calls for road improvements, such as resurfacing, better signage, and wildlife barriers. If an animal is confirmed as a factor, it could lead to stricter regulations for animal-crossing zones on Spanish highways.
Lamborghini has expressed condolences but awaits the investigation’s outcome before addressing potential mechanical issues. The absence of run-flat tires and fire-suppression systems in the Huracán Evo Spyder may prompt the European Union to revisit crash testing protocols for supercars. Jota’s medical advice against flying, necessitating a 190-mile road trip, raises questions about post-surgical travel guidelines for athletes, potentially influencing future protocols.
A Tragic Loss and Lasting Legacy
Jota, a Premier League and Nations League winner, leaves behind his wife, Rute Cardoso, married 11 days earlier on June 22, and three young children: Denis, Duarte, and a daughter born in 2024. André Silva, a Penafiel player, was his only sibling. Their funeral on July 5 in Gondomar, Portugal, saw tributes from Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk, Andy Robertson, and Cristiano Ronaldo, with floral arrangements honoring Jota’s No. 20 and Silva’s No. 30. Fans left flowers and scarves at Anfield, reflecting the brothers’ profound impact.
The black box’s revelation of a rear tire burst at 2:04 a.m. in an animal-crossing zone underscores the deadly interplay of speed, road conditions, and potential wildlife hazards. As police review dashcam footage, the football world mourns, and the focus shifts to preventing future tragedies through improved road safety, vehicle design, and travel guidelines, ensuring Jota and Silva’s legacy endures.
