Prosecutors have said that they now believe that the alleged passenger may have actually been behind the wheel of a BMW that caused a fiery crash on a German motorway that killed seven people.

Investigators had previously said that they believed that 45-year-old Ronny L., who has reportedly not had a driving licence for 16 years, had been driving the car at the time of the accident.

But they now say that it might have been his 34-year-old passenger, named only as Andre H., who caused the smash.

He reportedly does not have a driving licence either and was also allegedly drunk at the time.

Five 19-year-olds in a Mercedes died when their car caught fire after the BMW, which was reportedly trying to overtake another car, drifted over to the wrong side of the motorway bypass.

The BMW then reportedly hit a Volkswagen Caddy, killing the 60-year-old driver when the car caught fire on the B247 motorway in the central German state of Thuringia, on Saturday, 1st April, at around 5:30pm.

A 73-year-old passenger in the VW managed to pull themselves out of the burning car and survived, according to local media, while a 44-year-old passenger in the BMW also died in the crash.

Police had initially named the BMW driver as 45-year-old Ronny L., who is now in hospital with a second passenger from the car, aged 34, both in serious condition.

But public prosecutor Ulf Walther, 63, told German media on Tuesday, 4th April: “The previous alleged passenger may have steered the car.”

Ronny L. was allegedly seen by neighbours celebrating loudly on his balcony and drinking alcohol on the afternoon of the accident, according to local media.

It is currently unclear if Andre H. was with him at the time. But hours later, the deadly crash occurred.

The motorway was shut down after the accident, with investigators combing the scene.

Over 1,000 people reportedly gathered in Muehlhausen on Tuesday evening to pay tribute to the five 19-year-old victims of the crash.

Local firefighter Markus Schulz, 27, was at the scene and told local media: “There is actually no punishment that is hard enough that has to be imposed here!”

His girlfriend Julia Wunnicke, 23, reportedly said with tears in her eyes: “I was on the same route, driving a quarter of an hour before the day of the accident.”

She reportedly knew one of the victims, adding: “I play with her mother in the Sachsensiedlung Muehlhausen marching band – it’s just unbelievable.”

Newsflash obtained a statement from the Thuringian Police on Sunday, 2nd April, which said at the time: “The investigations into the cause of the accident are still ongoing after the serious accident on Saturday afternoon on the B247 near Bad Langensalza.

“There, around 5:30pm, a 45-year-old driver was driving in a BMW in the direction of Erfurt and encountered oncoming traffic, where he collided with two vehicles, a Mercedes and a VW Caddy.

“Both oncoming vehicles caught fire and burned out. For five young people, three men and two women aged 19, who were sitting in the Mercedes and the 60-year-old driver of the Caddy, any help came too late. They died in their vehicles.”

The police added: “A 44-year-old occupant of the BMW also did not survive the accident.

“The 73-year-old passenger in the VW Caddy was able to escape from the burning vehicle.

“He and the other two occupants in the BMW, the driver and his 34-year-old passenger were taken to hospital with serious injuries.

“Since it could not be ruled out that the 45-year-old BMW driver, who does not have a driving licence, had been drinking alcohol, a blood test was ordered.

“The accident victims all come from the Unstrut-Hainich district, Eichsfeld and the district of Gotha.

“Investigations into the cause of the accident had begun in the evening, and pastors were present when the news of the death was delivered.

“These will also be the contact persons for the rescue workers and police officers deployed in the coming days. After the federal motorway has been cleaned, it must be checked to what extent the road surface has been damaged.”

The statement also said: “Only then can it be determined whether the road can be reopened. The total damage caused is currently estimated at around EUR 70,000 [GBP 61,570].”

The police also appealed for witnesses of the crash to come forward.

The investigation is ongoing.