Liverpool’s Jota and brother killed in car accident

MADRID, Spain:

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, the police said on Thursday.

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

Jota's death comes weeks after he married Rute Cardoso while on vacation from a long season where he helped Liverpool win the English Premier League title. On getting married, she wrote in a social media post, "Yes to forever."

He leaves behind three children, the youngest born last year.

Police were investigating the causes of the accident that occurred past midnight local time. They said there were no other vehicles involved and that the brothers were alone in the car. The bodies were undergoing forensic analysis.

It wasn't clear who was driving. Police were looking into the hypothesis that the accident happened because of a blown tyre while they tried to overtake another vehicle.

The crash occurred while Jota and Silva, who is also a Portuguese soccer player, were travelling eastwards along an isolated stretch of highway near the Portuguese border.

Video images of the aftermath published by Spanish media showed braking tyre marks veering off the road towards torn-apart guardrails. The burnt-up car was seen several metres ahead, with vegetation around it destroyed by the fire.

Video shot by a trucker passing by the scene and published by local media showed the Lamborghini in flames.

Portuguese media reported that Jota was headed to the northern city of Santander to take a ferry to England after being advised not to fly following a recent lung procedure. The reports could not be immediately confirmed.

The funeral is expected to be on Saturday in the Portuguese city of Porto.

Jota was on summer break from soccer after having helped Portugal win the Nations League. That June 8 final against Spain in Munich was his last match.

Liverpool's players are due back for next season on Monday. But Jota's participation in the Nations League could have earned him some extra time off.

Liverpool said the club was "devastated".

"Liverpool FC will be making no further comment at this time and request the privacy of Diogo and Andre's family, friends, teammates and club staff is respected as they try to come to terms with an unimaginable loss. We will continue to provide them with our full support."

Liverpool fans placed flowers and team scarves outside Anfield stadium after news of Jota's death spread.

- AP