Multiple people have died and others have sustained serious injuries following a head-on collision on the M9 motorway in County Kildare, Ireland. The incident occurred around 3 a.m. on Sunday when a car was traveling southbound in the northbound lanes of the M9 before colliding with another vehicle.
A spokesperson for the Gardaí confirmed that a number of fatalities resulted from the crash, which took place near junction 3. Emergency services were alerted to the vehicle traveling the wrong way on the motorway.
The female driver and front-seat passenger of the second car, both in their 30s, were transported to Tallaght University Hospital and are in critical condition. A rear-seat passenger, in her 20s, was taken to St. Luke's General Hospital and is in serious condition. A child, the third passenger in the second car, was taken to Children's Health Ireland at Crumlin and is also in serious condition.
The M9 remains closed in both directions between junction 3 and junction 4, with local diversions in place. A forensic collision investigation is underway. The Gardaí are appealing for any witnesses to the collision to come forward.
The Office of the Police Ombudsman, Fiosrú, has been notified of the incident. A Fiosrú investigator attended the scene, and an independent investigation into the circumstances, particularly concerning any contact with gardaí, is ongoing in line with the office's remit for incidents involving serious injury or death following contact with the police.