German prosecutors have opened an investigation into Bundestag member Thomas Bareiß and lifted his parliamentary immunity following a two-car crash that left four people hospitalised, authorities confirmed.
The Hechingen public prosecutor's office is probing the Christian Democratic Union politician on suspicion of negligent endangerment of road traffic and negligent bodily harm. The collision occurred on 12 July on the B27 federal highway between Hechingen and Balingen. A 51-year-old driver sustained serious injuries, while the 50-year-old driver of the other vehicle and two female passengers, aged 40 and 47, were also taken to hospital.
Blood tests indicated the accused may have been under the influence of a synthetic narcotic at the time of the crash, prosecutors said.