Reyes killed with cousin in '120mph' Mercedes crash as he drove home

ARSENAL legend Jose Antonio Reyes died today in a "120mph" car crash as he reportedly made his way home to his wife and children.

The 35-year-old was killed alongside his cousin, as the Mercedes they were travelling in came off the road and burst into flames, near to his hometown in Spain.

Reyes' 23-year-old cousin Jonathan died, Spanish media reports, while a third person, Juan Manuel Calderon, suffered 60 per cent burns and was taken to hospital after the car crashed at around 11.40am.

It is understood the footballer was on his way home to his family after training, having not been picked for the match against Cadiz tomorrow, Spanish media reports.

Local paper Diario de Sevilla, reports the car became a ball of fire, and said it is thought Reyes may have been driving at around 120mph before the vehicle came off the road.

Shocking pictures online claim to show the aftermath of the crash, with black smoke billowing from a car lying on its roof.

Reyes leaves behind two daughters, Noelia, five, and Triana, two, with wife Noelia Lopez, and a son, 11-year-old Jose Antonio Jr, from a previous relationship.

Arsenal today lowered its flag to pay respect to Reyes as former manager Arsène Wenger said: "I am devastated to hear the terrible news about Jose. To his family and friends, all support from everyone in the Arsenal family.

"He will remain forever in our hearts."

The crash is thought to have happened just outside of Seville, on a road between the city and Utrera, the town of Reyes' birth.

His former side Sevilla tweeted earlier today: "We couldn't be confirming worse news.

"Beloved Sevilla star Jose Antonio Reyes has died in a traffic collision. Rest in peace."

A minute's silence will be observed later today at the Champions League final in Madrid in memory of Reyes, and seven matches in LaLiga have been postponed.

And Reyes' hometown Utrera has declared there will be two days of mourning, and all flags in the town will be flown at half mast.

The town hall said in a statement: “This morning Utrera-born Jose Antonio Reyes has died in a traffic accident on the A-376.

“Another relative of Jose Antonio's has also died.

“Jose Antonio has been a much-loved person in our town since the start of his footballing career with Seville Football Club, always carrying the flag for Utrera.”

The town's mayor Jose Maria Villalobos said he felt “overwhelmed by this sad news and the fact a young person with a family has had his life taken away from him.”

Reyes married Noelia in June 2017 - she posted on Instagram just five days ago to celebrate their eight-year anniversary.

She shared a picture of the two of them smiling as they happily posed for the camera, with the message: "Where you do not ask for anything and they give you everything. There it is.