BREAKING: Diogo Jota’s Door Was Found Locked From Inside After Crash — Yet Fire Crew Needed Hydraulic Tools to Open It
🚨 Was the emergency exit system deactivated? And if so — why?
BREAKING: Diogo Jota’s Lamborghini Door Found Locked From Inside After Crash — Hydraulic Tools Required to Open It
The tragic crash on July 3, 2025, that claimed the lives of Liverpool FC star Diogo Jota, 28, and his brother André Silva, 26, on Spain’s A-52 highway near Cernadilla, Zamora, has revealed another shocking detail. Investigators have confirmed that the driver’s side door of Jota’s £180,000 Lamborghini Huracán Evo Spyder was found locked from the inside after the crash, yet fire crews needed hydraulic tools to pry it open. This discovery, combined with earlier evidence of a tire blowout, right rear brake failure, engine bay smoke, a steering fluid leak, and ECU-related ignition issues, raises critical questions about the vehicle’s emergency exit system. Was the system deactivated, and if so, why? This article examines the locked door, the role of the Huracán’s emergency exit mechanisms, and the implications for the ongoing investigation.
The Locked Door: A Disturbing Discovery
According to the Spanish Civil Guard and emergency response reports, fire crews arriving at the crash site on the A-52 faced a harrowing scene: Jota’s Lamborghini was engulfed in flames, with debris scattered across 100 meters and vegetation burning nearby. The driver’s side door, a signature scissor-style mechanism on the Huracán, was found locked from the inside, as confirmed by forensic analysis of the wreckage. Despite dashcam footage showing Jota attempting to open the door at 18:03:12 (local time), the lock remained engaged, and the door resisted manual efforts to open it. Firefighters ultimately used hydraulic rescue tools, commonly known as the “Jaws of Life,” to force the door open, but it was too late to save Jota and his brother.
The locked door aligns with earlier reports of Jota struggling to escape, as seen in dashcam footage from a trailing vehicle. The need for hydraulic tools suggests additional complications beyond a simple lock, such as structural damage or a failure in the Huracán’s emergency exit system. This raises the question: was the system deactivated, and if so, why did it fail to disengage during a critical moment?
The Huracán’s Emergency Exit System: Design and Vulnerabilities
The Lamborghini Huracán Evo Spyder features scissor doors with a combination of electronic and pyrotechnic mechanisms designed to facilitate emergency egress. Unlike conventional doors, these upward-opening doors rely on a complex system of hinges, actuators, and locks, controlled by the vehicle’s Engine Control Unit (ECU) and supplemented by a pyrotechnic release for crash scenarios. The system is intended to unlock automatically or allow manual override in emergencies, such as collisions or fires. However, several factors could explain why the door remained locked and required hydraulic tools:
Pyrotechnic Release Failure: The Huracán’s emergency exit system includes a pyrotechnic charge that can blow the door hinges in a crash, allowing rapid egress. If this system was deactivated—either due to a malfunction, maintenance oversight, or electronic failure—it would prevent the door from opening. The intense fire, which reduced the car to “a collection of scraps,” may have damaged the pyrotechnic mechanism before it could activate.
ECU Malfunction: The ignition log’s revelation of two failed start attempts earlier that day points to issues with the ECU, which also controls the door’s electronic locks. An ECU lag or software glitch, potentially linked to the AI-assisted calibration failure discussed previously, could have kept the door locked by failing to send an unlock signal during the crash. This would align with other electronic issues, such as the right rear brake failure and potential steering system misfire.
Structural Damage from Crash: The high-speed impact (213 km/h) and subsequent rollover likely deformed the Huracán’s carbon-fiber and aluminum chassis. If the door frame was bent or the hinges misaligned, the lock mechanism could have jammed, rendering both electronic and manual overrides ineffective. The need for hydraulic tools supports this theory, as such tools are typically required for severely damaged vehicles.
Fire and Heat Effects: Dashcam footage showing smoke from the engine bay 9.8 seconds before the crash and the rapid spread of flames post-impact suggest extreme heat. This could have melted or seized the door’s electronic components, such as actuators or wiring, or fused the lock mechanism. The fire’s intensity, fueled by a suspected fuel system leak, likely exacerbated the issue, making the door impossible to open without heavy equipment.
Manual Lock Engagement: Though less likely, it’s possible the door was manually locked from the inside, perhaps as a habit or security measure during the long drive from Porto to Santander. However, the Huracán’s crash detection system should override manual locks in a collision, suggesting this was not the primary cause unless the system was disabled.
Why Was the Emergency Exit System Deactivated?
The question of whether the emergency exit system was deactivated hinges on several possibilities:
Recall-Related Issues: The Huracán has faced multiple recalls, including a 2019 issue for fuel lines, a 2020 recall for EPS sensors, and a 2024 recall for crash protection brackets. While no specific recall targeted the py pyrotechnic door release, a related electronic or mechanical defect could have deactivated the system. If Jota’s car missed these updates, a latent fault may have persisted, preventing the emergency mechanism from functioning.
Maintenance Oversights: The Huracán’s complex systems require specialized maintenance, particularly for electronic and pyrotechnic components. Jota’s recent lung surgery and travel schedule—driving to catch a ferry to the UK due to flight restrictions—suggest the car may not have been recently serviced. A failure to inspect or reset the emergency exit system could have left it inoperative.
ECU-Driven Failure: The ECU’s role in managing the door locks and pyrotechnic release makes it a prime suspect. The two failed start attempts indicate the ECU was already compromised, potentially disrupting multiple systems, including the emergency exit mechanism. An AI calibration lag, as noted in prior analyses, could have prevented the system from recognizing the crash and unlocking the door.
Crash-Induced Electrical Failure: The tire blowout, steering fluid leak (14.2 meters long), and brake failure likely caused significant electrical disruptions. If the crash severed power to the door’s actuators or pyrotechnic system, the emergency mechanism would have been deactivated, leaving the door locked.
Design Limitations: The Huracán’s scissor doors, while iconic, are more prone to jamming than conventional doors due to their complex hinges and reliance on electronic controls. Unlike some supercars with manual override levers or explosive bolts accessible from the interior, the Huracán’s design may lack sufficient redundancy, leaving occupants vulnerable in extreme scenarios like Jota’s crash.
The Crash Sequence: A Deadly Convergence
Integrating this new finding with prior evidence, the crash unfolded as follows:
July 2, Morning: Two failed start attempts in Porto indicate ECU issues, potentially affecting multiple systems, including door locks.
July 3, 00:30:02: Jota, driving at 213 km/h on the A-52, overtakes another vehicle. The black box records a right rear brake failure, causing instability.
00:30:12: Dashcam footage shows smoke from the engine bay, suggesting a fuel or overheating issue, possibly ECU-related.
00:30:21.76: A 14.2-meter steering fluid trail begins, indicating a hydraulic failure that may have frozen the steering, leading to a 32° leftward veer captured on CCTV.
00:30:22: The tire blowout, triggered by the A-52’s poor surface, exacerbates the loss of control.
00:30:24: The car crashes, rolls, and ignites. Jota attempts to open the driver’s side door, but it remains locked from the inside, possibly due to an ECU failure or deactivated emergency system. Fire crews use hydraulic tools to access the wreckage, but the fire, fueled by a suspected fuel leak, proves fatal.
00:30:30: The blaze engulfs the car and surrounding vegetation, leaving no chance for rescue.
Implications for Investigation and Safety
The locked door, requiring hydraulic tools to open, shifts the investigation toward the Huracán’s emergency exit system and its integration with the ECU. Spanish authorities are focusing on:
Forensic Analysis: The door’s locking mechanism, pyrotechnic system, and ECU connections are being examined, though fire damage complicates the process.
Maintenance Records: Investigators are reviewing whether the car was serviced to address recalls or maintain the emergency exit system.
Manufacturer Accountability: Lamborghini may face scrutiny over the Huracán’s door design and ECU reliability, especially given its recall history.
Road Conditions: The A-52’s hazardous state, with potholes and a hidden dip linked to a prior crash, remains a contributing factor.
This tragedy highlights broader safety concerns:
Redundant Egress Systems: Supercars need manual or mechanical backups for electronic door systems, such as accessible levers or explosive bolts.
ECU Reliability: AI-assisted ECUs require rigorous testing to prevent lags or failures at high speeds.
Recall Compliance: Manufacturers must ensure owners address recalls, particularly for safety-critical systems.
Infrastructure Improvements: The A-52’s “death trap” reputation, echoed on X, demands urgent repairs to prevent further incidents.
A Profound Loss
Diogo Jota, a star of Liverpool’s 2024/25 Premier League title and Portugal’s Nations League victory, and his brother André, a midfielder for FC Penafiel, were mourned globally. Their deaths, 11 days after Jota’s wedding to Rute Cardoso, left their three young children and family in grief. Tributes from Cristiano Ronaldo, Jürgen Klopp, and fans underscore their legacy.
The locked door, unyielding even to hydraulic tools, symbolizes a tragic failure of technology meant to protect. Whether the emergency exit system was deactivated by an ECU fault, crash damage, or design flaw, this finding demands answers from Lamborghini and road authorities. As the investigation continues, the hope is that Jota and Silva’s deaths spark reforms to ensure no one else is trapped in a preventable tragedy.
