Four people are dead and a child is fighting for life following a devastating head-on motorway crash in County Kildare.
At around 3 am on Sunday, a vehicle traveling in the wrong direction on the M9 northbound carriageway smashed directly into an oncoming car between junctions 3 and 4 near Moone and Athy. The four occupants inside the vehicle driving the wrong way were killed instantly. For an alternative view, consider: this related article.
Emergency services rushed to the grim scene as the motorway was immediately shut down in both directions.
The Toll on the Second Car
The devastation didn't stay confined to the first vehicle. Four people inside the second car sustained severe, life-threatening injuries. Related coverage on this matter has been provided by The Washington Post.
- The Front Seat: The female driver and front-seat passenger, both in their 30s, were rushed to Tallaght University Hospital. Both remain in critical condition.
- The Back Seat: A female passenger in her 20s was transported to St Luke's General Hospital, listed in serious condition.
- The Child: A young child was rushed to Children's Health Ireland at Crumlin and is currently receiving intensive care for serious injuries.
The Gardaí Investigation and Fiosrú Involvement
Early indications suggest the wrong-way car was attempting to evade local gardaí prior to the collision. Because of the circumstances involving prior police contact, An Garda Síochána automatically referred the incident to Fiosrú, the Office of the Police Ombudsman.
Fiosrú dispatched an on-call team of independent investigators to the M9 stretch early Sunday morning. Officials emphasize that a referral does not automatically mean police wrongdoing occurred. Instead, it triggers a mandatory, independent review to determine whether any police action or omission contributed to the fatalities.
Current Road Closures and Appeal for Information
The M9 remains completely closed between Junction 3 and Junction 4 northbound and southbound. Local diversions are heavily active, causing delays for Sunday morning travelers. Forensic collision examiners are currently scouring the tarmac for skid marks, debris patterns, and electronic data.
Gardaí are urging anyone who was driving on the M9 northbound or southbound between 2 am and 3 am on Sunday to check their dashcams. Anyone with footage or relevant details should contact Athy Garda Station immediately or reach out to the Garda Confidential Line.
