Number of deaths after collision involving car driving wrong way on M9 motorway in Kildare

Several deaths have occurred and at least four people, including a child, are in serious condition after a head-on collision on the M9 motorway in Co Kildare.A vehicle was driving in a southbound direction on the northbound carriageway of the M9 between Junction 3 and Junction 4 when it had a head-on collision with another car.The female driver and a front-seat passenger of the second car, both women in their 30s, were taken to Tallaght University Hospital where they remain in a critical condition.A rear-seat passenger, a woman in her 20s, was taken to St Luke’s Hospital where she is in a serious condition, while a child who was also a passenger was taken to Children’s Health Ireland at Crumlin in a serious condition.READ MOREGardaí in Athy said they were investigating all the circumstances of the crash that took place around 3am on Sunday.Gardaí said only that “a number of fatalities have occurred and no further details are available at this time”.The section of the M9 where the incident occurred was closed with diversions in place on Sunday morning. A forensic examination was due to take place.Gardaí appealed for witnesses, including those with dashcam footage to make contact.The incident was referred to Fiosrú, the Office of the Police Ombudsman, under Section 203 of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024, which states that matters must be referred if they appear to “indicate that the act or omission of a member of garda personnel may have resulted in the death of, or serious harm to, a person”.