The truck driver who filmed the aftermath of Diogo Jota's Lamborghini crash has provided a new statement about what he saw upon arriving at the scene. The Liverpool forward, 28, died alongside his brother, Andre Silva, 26, following a single-car accident just 10 miles across the Portuguese border into Spain.
Since the tragedy, there has been an emotional outpouring from the football world and beyond. Liverpool released a statement saying they would "immortalise number 20," and many of Jota’s current and former teammates attended his funeral over the weekend - held at the same venue where he had married his childhood sweetheart just two weeks earlier.
As authorities continue to investigate the crash that claimed the lives of the two footballers, police have stated they are now looking into the possibility that there was no tyre blowout and Jota was instead driving well over the speed limit, despite initial reports suggesting otherwise. In light of this, the truck driver has offered more context based on what he believes happened, too.
Diogo Jota Related
Spanish Police Release New Statement About Diogo Jota Car Crash
Police have provided an update on their investigation.
Truck Driver Disputes Police Report About Jota's Death
He doesn't believe the Portugal international was driving recklessly
portugal diogo jota
A preliminary report released on Tuesday indicated that the car was likely speeding at the time of the crash. Forensics have been analysing the marks left by the car's wheels, with suggestions that a tyre burst may have occurred. Police said in a statement they are trying to determine whether excessive speed was the cause of the crash.
However, Jose Azevedo, who recorded a video seemingly filmed from a truck dashboard, has assured the family that the car was not travelling above the speed limit when the incident occurred - contradicting what police reports are currently suggesting. "I filmed it, stopped, tried to help, but unfortunately, there was nothing I could do," he said in Portuguese, as per the Daily Mail. "I have a clear conscience.
"I know what I went through that night because I didn't know who was inside. My condolences to the family. [The family] have my word that they were not speeding. I could see the make of the car, the colour of the car.
"I drive this road every day, Monday through Saturday, I know what road it is, and it's worthless. It's a dark road, and I could see the make and colour of the car, everything perfectly. Later on, unfortunately, that's how it ended."
Following Jota’s death, a central government representative for the Zamora province has since branded the A-52 as a "very dangerous" road. In 2023 alone, there were 19 accidents on the A-52, with an average of 1.5 deaths per incident. The stretch of highway is also known to be riddled with constant potholes, and locals have previously complained about poor signage.
As police continue to investigate what led to Jota's tragic passing on a road dubbed "one of the worst in Spain," his Liverpool teammates returned to training this week with a deep sense of loss, as the Reds prepare to defend their Premier League title next month without the presence of a forward who was so infectiously joyful.