Liverpool star Diogo Jota and brother tragically killed in Spanish car crash

Madrid: Liverpool player Diogo Jota and his brother were killed in a car accident in Spain when the Lamborghini they were in veered off a road and burst into flames, police said Thursday.

The Spanish Civil Guard confirmed to The Associated Press that the 28-year-old Jota and his 25-year-old brother, André Silva, were found dead near the northwestern city of Zamora.

The accident occurred past midnight local time. Police said they were investigating the causes and the bodies were undergoing forensic analysis.

Jota and Silva, both Portuguese soccer players, were the only ones in the car, according to police.

It was not immediately clear who was driving but police have been looking into the possibility that the accident happened as a result of a blown tire while the car tried to overtake another vehicle.

The brothers were driving eastward along an isolated stretch of highway, about an hour west of Zamora, when the accident took place.

“The car was incinerated, and they died inside,” Spanish government official Ángel Blanco said.

Spanish media have published video images of the crash’s aftermath. They show tire marks veering off the road toward damaged guardrails, while the burnt-up car can be seen several meters away.

Firefighters were called in as flames from the crash spread into nearby vegetation, authorities said.

Jota’s death comes weeks after he married Rute Cardoso and in a social media post wrote, “Yes to forever.” They had three children, the youngest born last year.

Jota also played for Portugal’s national team and helped it win the Nations League last month.

Silva played with Portuguese club Penafiel in the lower divisions.

AP