The crash happened during a driving event on a closed circuit with both Benedikt Hoewedes and Julian Draxler passengers in separate cars.
Although neither of the footballers were injured in the accident, one of the cars driven by the German Touring Car (DTM) driver Pascal Wehrlein hit a 63-year-old German tourist and local course marshal, both of whom were later taken to hospital.
Oliver Bierhoff, the team’s general manager, said: “It was a big shock for the team, although just two players were involved.
“Julian Draxler and Hoewedes were the two who experienced it and were extremely affected by it.”
The other car was driven by the Formula One driver Nico Rosberg, who later tweeted: “My thoughts are with the two people who were injured and I wish them a fast recovery.”
Claudia Merzbach, a Mercedes spokeswoman, said that the event was merely a presentation and test drive of two new vehicles, not a speed or race event.
“It was a product presentation in a closed course,” she said. “Two people were injured. We cannot and are not allowed to say more.”
Hoewedes and Draxler have now resumed their training, and the German football team will continue to train for next month’s World Cup in the South Tyrol area of Italy until June 1.
Image credit: Getty
