Five teenagers have died and multiple others are injured after a crash on the M9 motorway in Ireland. The collision occurred on the M9 Northbound in rural County Kildare at 3am on Sunday, involving two cars on a northbound stretch of the road.
According to sources cited by the Irish Mirror, all the deceased were in one car, which was travelling the wrong way on the northbound carriageway. The female driver and front passenger of the second car, both in their 30s, were rushed to Tallaght University Hospital with critical conditions. A female rear-seat passenger in her 20s was taken to St. Luke's General Hospital in a serious condition, and a child was taken to Children's Health Ireland at Crumlin in a serious condition.
Investigation underway
The road has been sealed off and gardaí have begun an investigation. The independent policing watchdog, Fiosru, has also started a separate investigation after gardaí were previously alerted to the car driving the wrong way. The scene is being preserved for examination by forensic collision investigators.
Garda statement
A Garda spokesperson said: “Gardaí in Athy are investigating all the circumstances of a fatal road traffic collision that occurred on the M9 Northbound at Junction 3 in the early hours of this morning Sunday 16th August, 2026 at approximately 3:00am. Gardaí and emergency services were alerted to a vehicle travelling southbound on the northbound carriageway of the M9. The vehicle was driving on the M9 between junction 3 and 4 when a head-on collision occurred with a second car. A number of fatalities have occurred and no further details are available at this time.”
