Five teenagers dead after crash involving car on wrong side of motorway

Five teenagers have died and four other people have been seriously injured in a crash involving a car driving in the wrong direction on a motorway in Co Kildare.

Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly has described the head-on collision between two cars on the M9 as “horrific” and warned that “in some cases” vehicles are being driven on the wrong side of motorways for social media likes.

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

One of those seriously injured in the crash is a child.

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.

A gardaí spokesperson said the bodies of five teenage males, all occupants of one vehicle, have been recovered from the scene.

Their bodies have been taken to Naas General Hospital where post-mortem examinations will take place.

The spokesperson added: “The occupants of the second vehicle, three women, two aged in their 30s, one in her 20s, and a male child all remain in hospital continuing to receive treatment for serious injuries.

“Forensic collision investigators have completed their examination of the scene.”

Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly described the crash as ‘horrific’ (Brian Lawless/PA)

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The road is expected to reopen shortly.

The gardaí spokesperson added: “Family liaison officers have been appointed to relatives of the occupants of both vehicles.

“Gardaí are appealing for any persons who may have witnessed this collision to come forward.

“Gardaí are appealing to road users who were travelling on the M9 northbound or southbound between 2am and 3am this morning, Sunday August 16 2026, and who may have dashcam footage of the incident or surrounding area to make this footage available to investigating gardaí.”

Mr Kelly said: “My thoughts are with those injured in this morning’s collision on the M9.

“These family members were travelling innocently when they were struck by a vehicle being driven the wrong way down the motorway.

“This horrific incident, following the recent collision on the M50, shows how irresponsible and dangerous driving on the wrong side of the motorway is.

“That, of course, should be self-evident, but what makes this reckless behaviour even more appalling is that in some cases it is being done for social media likes regardless of the potentially devastating impact it might have on innocent people and themselves.

The aftermath of the crash in Co Kildare (Niall Carson/PA)

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“As this particular incident has been referred to Fiosrú, the Police Ombudsman, I am constrained in what I can say in detail about this incident, but I know that gardaí do what they can to stop such vehicles while also taking into consideration all other road users.

“Gardaí are put in a really challenging situation dealing with such incidents.

“As always, An Garda Síochána will fully co-operate with the Police Ombudsman investigation which I hope is completed as expeditiously as possible.”

The Commissioner added: “My thoughts are also with all members of An Garda Síochána and the emergency services who had to deal with this awful incident this morning.

“Such incidents show the difficult work we ask our gardaí to undertake every day to keep our communities safe.”

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.

The M9 was closed from junction 3 to junction 4 (Niall Carson/PA)

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“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.”

Nine people were injured in an incident last weekend when there was a head-on collision on the M50 in Dublin with a car travelling in the wrong direction on the motorway.