Authorities Reveal Cause Of Diogo Jota’s Death

Spain’s Civil Guard announced Tuesday that their ongoing investigation into last Thursday’s crash indicates Jota was driving excessively fast when the Lamborghini left the roadway following a tire failure.

Officials had previously not disclosed which brother was behind the wheel. Tuesday’s statement confirmed that evidence points to Jota as the driver.

The brothers lost their lives when their vehicle caught fire on a remote highway section in the early morning hours.

Portuguese news outlets reported that Jota was traveling to Santander in northern Spain to catch a ferry to England, where he planned to return to Liverpool after being told to avoid air travel due to a recent lung operation.

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The brothers were laid to rest in Portugal on Saturday.

Jota, aged 28, and Silva, 25, were discovered deceased near Zamora in Spain’s northwest region early Thursday following the crash.

Their Lamborghini went off the highway on an isolated stretch shortly after midnight before igniting.

Following family identification, their remains were returned to Portugal, where a wake took place on Friday.

The tragedy occurred just two weeks after Jota wed his longtime partner Rute Cardoso during a break from a demanding season that saw him contribute to Liverpool’s Premier League title.

Jota and Rute had three children together, with their youngest born the previous year.

The loss prompted widespread tributes from the football community and Portuguese government officials.