Dennis Rodman
TMZ Sports broke the story ... Rodman was being investigated for hit and run after witnesses told the California Highway Patrol they believed the NBA great was driving a white SUV that crashed on the 5 Freeway around 12:30 AM.
CHP investigators now believe Rodman WAS behind the wheel -- and was traveling northbound while in the southbound carpool lane that night.
Officials say the driver of a BMW swerved to avoid a head on collision and hit the center divider. Rodman allegedly left the scene.
Multiple sources tell us .