Former Arsenal and Real Madrid star Jose Antonio Reyes has died in a car crash at the age of 35. The footballer was killed along with his 23-year-old cousin and another man when the vehicle they were travelling in overturned and burst into flames in Utrera, the town where Reyes was born, just outside Seville.
He was reportedly on his way home to his wife and three children after training, having not been picked by current club Extremadura to play against Cádiz tomorrow, according to Spanish media.
Spanish police said they believe Reyes was driving his Mercedes Brabus S550V at 120 miles per hour – some 50mph over the speed limit on the A-376 motorway near Alcala de Guadaira, outside Seville.
His cousin Jonathan Reyes, 23, a back seat passenger, also died along with a third man called Juan Manuel Calderon who managed to get out of the vehicle but suffered first degree burns to 60 per cent of his body that ended up claiming his life after he was rushed to Virgen del Rocio hospital in Seville.
He was also described locally as a cousin of the footballer, who also played for Seville, Real Madrid and Atletico de Madrid.
Reyes’ Mercedes is said to have gone off the motorway before overturning and going up in flames.
TV footage showed the charred wreck of the car on its roof.
Utrera has declared two days of official mourning.
His former club Sevilla FC tweeted on Saturday: