OFFICIAL: Diogo Jota’s Crashed Supercar’s Black Box Dissected — 75mph Curve, Collision with Wildlife Crossing Road, Police Confirm Crash Was NOT Caused by Flat Tyre
In a crucial update that dramatically changes the understanding of the tragic accident that claimed the lives of Portuguese football star Diogo Jota and his brother Andre, Spanish authorities have released official findings from the Lamborghini’s recovered black box.
The high-tech data recorder — sometimes called an Event Data Recorder (EDR) — was carefully extracted from the wreckage by forensic specialists in Zamora. After weeks of meticulous analysis, its contents have provided investigators with a second-by-second reconstruction of the final moments before the fatal crash.
According to the Civil Guard Traffic Unit’s report, the Lamborghini Huracán was negotiating a gentle curve at approximately 75 mph (120 km/h) — slightly above the posted advisory speed but not excessive for the type of road — when an unexpected hazard appeared. The black box data, combined with dashcam footage from a vehicle traveling some distance behind, confirmed that a large animal — believed to be a wild boar or deer — suddenly crossed the N-525 highway directly in the supercar’s path.
Jota apparently attempted to swerve to avoid the animal. Telemetry from the black box reveals a sharp steering input and an immediate lateral G-force spike, followed by rapid corrective movements. Within just under two seconds, the right front wheel made contact with the roadside shoulder, which was uneven and loose with gravel. This caused the Lamborghini to fishtail, lose grip entirely, and veer off into a metal guardrail.
The report explicitly ruled out an earlier theory that a blown tyre was the primary cause. Investigators found no evidence of a puncture or pressure loss before the initial steering maneuver. A separate inspection by tire engineers confirmed all four Pirelli performance tires were properly inflated up until the point of impact damage.
“This was a classic evasive maneuver scenario,” said Captain Luis Moreno of the Zamora traffic division. “At high speed, a sudden obstacle — in this case wildlife — forces an instinctive swerve. With powerful sports cars, even small directional changes can destabilize the vehicle. Unfortunately, road shoulder conditions amplified the loss of control.”
Police also highlighted that collisions with wildlife are a known hazard on this stretch of road, which passes through wooded and rural areas. Local residents have repeatedly called for more fencing and wildlife warning systems, concerns that may now take on new urgency in the wake of this high-profile tragedy.
Meanwhile, Diogo Jota’s family, along with teammates and fans around the world, continue to grieve. While the findings offer painful clarity, they also spare Jota from blame linked to mechanical negligence. Social media has been flooded with messages such as: “So it wasn’t reckless driving or a tyre blowout — it was an accident no one could have predicted. Heartbreaking.”
With the official cause now established, Spanish authorities plan to close the case formally in the coming weeks. Still, this revelation leaves behind haunting what-ifs about a momentary twist of fate, and a reminder of how even the world’s best can be vulnerable to nature’s unpredictable course.