Seven burn to death in fireball crash after ‘drunk’ driver ploughs into two cars on German motorway

SEVEN people have been killed after their cars went up in flames when a suspected drunk driver ploughed into them. Police the motorist who caused the horror pile-up on a German motorway did not have a licence. NewsflashSeven people have died in a motorway pile-up in Germany[/caption] NewsflashPolice are investigating the horror crash[/caption] Five 19-year-olds, three men and two women, in a Mercedes died when their car caught fire after a BMW trying to overtake another car drifted over to the wrong side of the motorway bypass on Saturday. The BMW is then understood to have 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. 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 named the BMW driver only as 45-year-old Ronny L., due to strict local privacy laws. He is in hospital with a second passenger from the car, aged 34, and both in serious condition. The authorities are investigating Ronny L. for negligent homicide. Police spokeswoman Fraenze Toepfer said: “We also suspect that the BMW driver was drunk and have ordered a blood test. The result is still pending.” The motorway was shut down after the accident, with investigators combing the scene. Experts are also understood to be counselling shocked relatives of the victims. Thuringian Police said: “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.” Police have appealed for witnesses of the crash to come forward. The investigation is ongoing.