The football world is mourning Diogo Jota, one of Liverpool's most beloved footballers, a Portuguese international who died early this morning in northern Spain, in a car accident in which his brother Andre, a player for Penafiel, was also killed.
The A-52 highway in the province of Zamora, in the very north of the Iberian Peninsula, is described by Spanish media as "one of the worst" in the country, known for numerous accidents and a large number of traffic violations.
The accident occurred when the Lamborghini driven by Diogo Žoza went off the road after a tire burst while overtaking near the town of Sernadila, not far from the Portuguese border.
The car hit a tree and caught fire.
"The highway where the accident occurred has a very bad reputation and is known in the region as a road where accidents are frequent due to irresponsible driving," writes the local newspaper La Opinion de Zamora.
In 2020 alone, it is reported, almost 15.000 speeding tickets were issued on that section.
Even a few years ago, a campaign was launched to raise driver awareness of the dangers of the A-52 highway, with its numerous black spots and sharp curves.
Also, the frequent appearance of wild animals has increased the danger.
A survey conducted by the Spanish Organization of Users and Consumers showed that drivers consider the A-52 to be one of the worst roads in all of Spain, reports Index.hr.
The province of Samora is also known for its hilly terrain, as it is located in the northern mountainous region of Spain, on the slopes of the Pyrenees, so additional problems are caused by frequent fog and poor visibility.
Žota was returning from vacation to join Liverpool's preparations for the new season, and doctors advised him not to travel by plane due to recent lung surgery.
"He had lung surgery and doctors advised him not to fly. He was on his way to the port of Santander to take a ferry to the UK and continue his journey by car upon arrival," CNN Portugal quoted journalist Rui Laura as saying.
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