Five teenagers killed and child injured in crash after car driven wrong way on motorway

A number of people have died and a child is among those seriously injured after a head-on collision between two cars on a motorway in Co Kildare .

A gardaí spokesperson said one of the cars was travelling in the wrong direction on the M9 northbound.

Gardaí said they are investigating the circumstances of the collision at junction 3 at about 3am on Sunday.

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.

A gardaí spokesperson said: “A number of fatalities have occurred and no further details are available at this time.”

The spokesperson said the female driver and front-seat passenger, both aged in their 30s, of the second car have been taken to Tallaght University Hospital and both 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 the Children’s Health Ireland at Crumlin and is in a serious condition.

The M9 from junction 3 to junction 4 northbound and southbound remains closed with local diversions in place.

Gardaí are appealing for anyone who may have witnessed the collision to come forward.

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.”