The police are investigating a 44-year-old from North Rhine-Westphalia who has apparently caused several serious accidents in a short time.
A 47-year-old died, two other people and the woman herself were seriously injured, another man was slightly injured, as the investigators said.
Accordingly, the first of five accidents occurred in Lengerich on Sunday morning, the others occurred in Lienen.
Several cyclists were among the victims, including two people aged 63 and 64 who were hospitalized seriously injured.
In the last accident, she steered the car into a group of cyclists again.
A 47-year-old racing cyclist died, the 44-year-old rider hit a tree with her car and was seriously injured.
A 72-year-old was slightly injured.
Homicide Squad set up
The driver was therefore initially unable to be questioned.
The murder commission established was dependent on the evaluation of the traces of the accident and the questioning of witnesses in its investigation, it said.
The presumably longer route is currently being reconstructed.
The investigators said the woman was mentally ill and had therefore been treated for years.
One does not rule out an extended suicide attempt, said a spokesman for the prosecutor's office on request.
So far, there is no evidence that the woman knew the victims.
But you are at the beginning of the investigation and investigate in all directions.
Icon: The mirror
jpz / dpa