Five teenagers, all wearing balaclavas or masks, were killed in a head-on collision on the M9 in County Kildare, Ireland, early on Sunday morning (August 16) after the stolen BMW they were travelling in was driven the wrong way down the motorway. Four members of a family, believed to be heading to Dublin Airport for a holiday, were seriously injured in the crash.
Crash details and initial response
The collision occurred at around 3am on the M9 northbound near Castledermot. Gardaí sources told the Irish Mirror they did not pursue the car when it drove the wrong way, working on a theory that the teenagers stole the BMW in Athy, Co Kildare, and drove against traffic knowing they would not be chased.
"Members disengaged the first time it went down the road the wrong way - and didn't get a chance to engage the second time," a source said. The crash scene was so devastating that gardaí initially believed only four teenagers had died, as that number were visible in the wreckage. It was not until late afternoon, when specialists moved the vehicle, that the fifth body was discovered beneath the car.
Investigations launched
Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly released a statement as two separate investigations were launched. An Garda Síochána is conducting an inquiry into the collision, while independent policing watchdog Fiosrú has also started its own investigation into any potential interactions gardaí may have had with the vehicle before the crash.
The incident comes a week after a similar collision on Dublin's M50, where a stolen car travelling the wrong way crashed into an innocent motorist. Mr Kelly said both crashes highlighted the recklessness of driving against traffic, a tactic increasingly used by young criminals aware that gardaí will not pursue them.
Sequence of events
The incident began approximately 30 minutes before the collision when gardaí first spotted the BMW behaving suspiciously. Officers attempted to stop it, but it sped onto the motorway against traffic, prompting them to disengage. The car then performed a U-turn, rejoined the M9 in the correct direction, and exited at Junction 2A. Gardaí were preparing to deploy a stinger device when those inside spotted a police vehicle and accelerated away, driving the wrong way down the exit ramp and back onto the motorway against oncoming traffic.
Within minutes, the BMW collided head-on with a Hyundai travelling in the correct direction. All five teenagers in the BMW were killed instantly, while the four occupants of the Hyundai sustained injuries. The family, from Carlow, comprised a seven-year-old child, a woman in her 20s, and two women in their 30s.
Gardaí confirmed: "The female driver and front passenger, both aged in her 30s of the second car have been removed from the scene to Tallaght University Hospital and both remain in critical condition." A female rear seat passenger in her 20s was taken to St. Luke's General Hospital in a serious condition, and the child was taken to Children's Health Ireland (CHI) at Crumlin in a serious condition, with a broken leg.
Appeals and tributes
Gardaí cordoned off the area and appealed for witnesses, particularly those with dashcam footage from the M9 between 2:00am and 3:00am. Fiosrú confirmed it is conducting its own investigation, stating: "The referral was made following a Fatal Road Traffic Collision on the M9. One of Fiosrú's on call team of investigators attended the scene and its independent investigation is ongoing."
Tributes poured in for the victims, with one reading: "A Mortal sin. The Nicest Boy you ever could have come across, so many memories we have together and I'll make sure cherish every one. God help your poor mother and family get Best Bed In Heaven. You Will be truly missed."
Gardaí confirmed this evening that the bodies of five teenage males were removed to Naas General Hospital for post-mortems. The occupants of the second vehicle, three women and a male child, remain in hospital receiving treatment for serious injuries. Forensic Collision Investigators have completed their examination, and the road is expected to reopen shortly. Family Liaison Officers have been appointed to relatives of both vehicles' occupants.
