Several people have died and others have been seriously injured in a crash on the M9 in Co Kildare after a car was driven on the wrong side of the motorway, according to Irish police.
The collision happened at about 3am on Sunday at junction 3 on the northbound M9. Two vehicles were involved in a head-on collision.
Details of the collision
Emergency services were alerted to a vehicle travelling southbound on the M9 northbound carriageway between junctions 3 and 4 when it collided head-on with another car.
Among the seriously injured is a child. 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 child has been taken to Children's Health Ireland at Crumlin and is in a serious condition.
Ongoing investigation
The M9 from junction 3 to junction 4 northbound and southbound remains closed with local diversions in place. A forensic collision examination will take place.
Gardaí are appealing for witnesses to come forward. Fiosrú, the Office of the Police Ombudsman, has been notified and its independent investigation is ongoing.
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. In line with its statutory remit, Fiosrú’s investigation relates to incidents involving contact with gardaí where a member of the public has died or been seriously injured.”
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.”
