Up to four people have died in a two-vehicle collision on the M9 in Co Kildare, according to sources. The crash involved a car allegedly driving in the wrong direction on the motorway, and four others in another vehicle, including a child, were seriously injured as they were reportedly heading to Dublin Airport.
Head-on collision on M9
A gardaí spokesperson said two vehicles were involved in a head-on collision on the northbound M9. Gardaí are investigating the circumstances of the crash at junction 3, which occurred at about 3am on Sunday, August 16. Emergency services were alerted to a vehicle travelling southbound on the M9 northbound carriageway.
The vehicle was travelling between junctions 3 and 4 when it collided head-on with another car. The wreckage of the crash was visible on the motorway on Sunday morning. Reports suggest that the four people injured are from the same family.
Casualties and injuries
A gardaí spokesperson said "A number of fatalities have occurred" but has yet to confirm how many. However, sources claim that up to four people have died, all in one of the vehicles. The source also claimed that they were in the car allegedly travelling the wrong way down the motorway.
The spokesperson added that the female driver and front-seat passenger of the second car, both aged in their 30s, have been taken to Tallaght University Hospital and remain in critical condition. A female rear-seat passenger, aged in her 20s, was taken to St Luke’s General Hospital and is in a serious condition. The third passenger, a child, has been taken to Children’s Health Ireland at Crumlin and is in a serious condition.
Investigation and road closures
According to Cork Beo, it is understood that the four other people injured in the crash were a family on their way to Dublin Airport. The M9 from junction 3 to junction 4 northbound and southbound remains closed with local diversions in place. A garda forensic collision examination will take place.
Gardaí are appealing for anyone who may have witnessed the collision to come forward. Fiosrú, the Office of the Police Ombudsman, has been notified. A statement from Fiosrú said: "The referral was made following a fatal road traffic incident on the M9. One of Fiosrú’s on-call team of investigators attended the scene and its independent investigation is ongoing."
The statement added: "A referral does not necessarily mean a garda or gardaí have been accused of wrongdoing. Instead, it means that Fiosrú should independently investigate the incident to ascertain whether or not the act or omission of a garda or gardaí may have resulted in the death of, or serious harm to, a person. As the matter is now under investigation, pursuant to section 208(1)(b) of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024, Fiosrú cannot make any further comment."
Sinn Féin TD for Kildare South, Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh, said: "People woke this morning to the devastating news of lives lost and others critically injured following a collision on the M9 motorway. The scenes are absolutely catastrophic, and my deepest sympathies go out to the families of those who have lost their lives, and for those who remain in a critical condition in hospital. My heart also goes out to the first responders and all of those working in our emergency services who were met with the most horrific of scenes this morning. The information we have learnt about the circumstances of this collision so far are disturbing - we know that one car was tracked by Gardaí travelling down the wrong side of the road, and that Fiosrú will launch its own investigation as a result of this. In the meantime, investigating Gardaí must immediately be furnished with all necessary resources to carry out their own investigation, and I appeal to anyone with information about the crash or who has dashcam footage to contact Gardaí as soon as possible. This loss of life is colossal and the effect those losses will have on their friends and families is incalculable. My thoughts are with all affected. Our state services and communities must support them in every way possible."
