The Besançon prosecutor announced on Thursday that a large amount of data had been seized during surprise searches at Goodyear factories in Colmar-Berg, Belgium and France earlier this week.

The investigation was triggered following a series of incidents involving faulty Goodyear tyres, which caused hundreds of accidents between 2011 and 2016. The lorry tyres, manufactured in Colmar-Berg, were said to have burst on all these occasions.

The judicial investigation was opened in Besançon following three incidents in particular which left four people dead. Prosecutors are also looking into four other accidents which caused the deaths of three other victims - however, the statute of limitations has expired for the latter incidents.

The data seized during the searches will now be evaluated by the investigating judge. Prosecutor Etienne Manteaux declined to comment on whether an indictment would take place. Theoretically, Goodyear could be sued as a company or as individuals, as the tyres had been switched out through a voluntary programme instead of the company issuing a safety recall.