A closer look at the final journey of Diogo Jota and his brother has drawn attention to the hazardous conditions along the A-52 highway in Spain — riddled with potholes, damaged barriers, and wild animals roaming freely.

The site of the accident that took Jota’s life.
Reporters from The Sun retraced the route the brothers took in their Lamborghini Huracán, valued at over £210,000, while driving from the Portuguese border toward the northern Spanish city of Santander. They identified at least 16 kilometers of degraded road, marked by ongoing construction and poor pavement conditions.

Just a few hundred meters from the accident site, two adult deer were spotted grazing peacefully near the roadside — highlighting the constant danger of wild animals suddenly crossing this densely forested stretch. Although initial investigations point to a tire blowout as the likely cause of the crash, authorities have not ruled out the possibility that Jota made a maneuver to avoid an animal, which may have led to the tragedy.

This stretch of the A-52 is known for frequent wildlife activity, including deer, Iberian wolves, and large flocks of crows. In the Sanabria region, where the accident occurred, local records indicate more than 40 complaints in May alone regarding road hazards such as deep potholes and loose gravel. One local resident even reported that his vehicle was damaged in an accident just 5 kilometers before the site where Jota’s car veered off the road.

The A-52 crosses a mountainous and forested area and has long been considered a dangerous zone — a “black spot” for road accidents in the Castile and León region. Residents have been demanding repair work and safety improvements for years, with little success.

Investigators from the Spanish Guardia Civil continue their inquiry. The burnt wreckage of the Lamborghini has been removed from the site for forensic examination.