Five male teenagers have died and four others were seriously injured in a head-on collision on the M9 motorway in County Kildare in the early hours of Sunday morning. The crash occurred at approximately 3:00 am between Junctions 3 and 4 on the northbound carriageway, when one vehicle, believed to be a BMW, was driven the wrong way down the motorway and collided with a second car carrying four people.
Details of the Collision
According to a Gardaí spokesperson, the incident took place on the M9 Northbound at Junction 3. Emergency services were alerted to a vehicle travelling southbound on the northbound carriageway. The head-on collision occurred between the wrong-way vehicle and another car. The four occupants of the second car, including a seven-year-old child, were reportedly on their way to Dublin Airport and are believed to be family members, as reported by DublinLive.
The bodies of five male teenagers, all occupants of one vehicle, were recovered from the scene. Post-mortem examinations will take place at Naas General Hospital. The four occupants of the second car were seriously injured: two women in their 30s are in critical condition, while another woman in her 20s and a seven-year-old child are also seriously injured in hospital.
Garda Investigation and Appeal
Gardaí in Athy are investigating all the circumstances of the fatal collision. A spokesperson stated: "Gardaí and emergency services were alerted to a vehicle travelling southbound on the northbound carriageway of the M9. The vehicle was driving on the M9 between junctions 3 and 4 when a head-on collision occurred with a second car. A number of fatalities have occurred, and no further details are available at this time."
Gardaí are appealing to road users who were travelling on the M9 northbound or southbound between 2:00 am and 3:00 am on Sunday, 16 August 2026, and who may have dashcam footage of the incident or the surrounding area, to make this footage available to investigating Gardaí.
Official Statements and Independent Investigation
Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly expressed his condolences, saying: "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."
Gardaí confirmed that Fiosrú, the Office of the Police Ombudsman, has been notified of the incident, with on-call investigators having attended the scene. An 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."
Anyone with information is asked to contact Athy Garda Station on 01 666 6000, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.
