HEARTBREAKING: Five teen de@d and more injured in h0rrific car crash
Five teenagers ‘wearing balaclavas’ de@d after tragedy in County Kildare
A head-on crash with a car is understood to have been travelling on the wrong side of the M9 in County Kildare, Ireland, with five teenagers killed and multiple others injured
Five male teenagers have died and four others are seriously injured following a head-on collision on the M9 in Co Kildare, Ireland.
The crash took place on the northbound lane between Junctions 3 and 4 at around 3am on Sunday.
One of the two vehicles involved was driven the wrong way down the motorway and collided with another car carrying four people.
It has since emerged the car carrying the teens was driven on the wrong side of the motorway twice in a matter of minutes while the occupants all wore balaclavas or masks, the Irish Mirror reports.
Police did not chase the car, but detectives are now working on a theory that they stole a BMW from a home in Athy, Co Kildare, and drove it on the wrong side of the motorway, believing that would stop cops pursuing them.
The four occupants of the second car, including a seven-year-old, are understood to have been making their way to Dublin Airport, according to DublinLive.
Gardaí have launched a probe into the head-on collision, warning that “in some cases” vehicles have been driven down the wrong side of motorways for “social media likes”.
The crash has also left two women in their 30s in a critical condition, while another woman in her 20s and a child, aged seven, are also seriously injured in hospital.
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The three women and child, all in one car, are believed to be members of the same family. Their car, a Hyundai, was driving the correct way on the motorway, reports the Irish Times.
The car carrying the people who were killed was a BMW. It was earlier reported that four people had died, with a fifth confirmed de@d on Sunday evening, reports The Irish Mirror.
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, were recovered from the scene.
Their bodies have been taken to Naas General Hospital where post-mortem examinations will take place.
Forensic collision investigators have also completed an examination of the scene.
Gardaí are urging anyone who may have witnessed the crash or has any information that could be pertinent to the investigation to come forward.
They are also asking anyone who was travelling in the area around the time of the crash who may have dash cam footage to make it available to investigators.
A Garda spokesperson said: “Gardaí in Athy are investigating all the circumstances of a fatal road traffic collision that occurred on the M9 Northbound at Junction 3 in the early hours of this morning, Sunday 16th August 2026, at approximately 3:00 am.
“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 this morning, Sunday 16th August, 2026 and who may have dashcam footage of the incident or the surrounding area to make this footage available to investigating Gardaí.”
Garda Commissioner Justin 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.”
Gardaí said 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.
The watchdog said a Fiosrú investigation relates to incidents involving contact with gardaí where a member of the public has died or been seriously injured.
“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,” Kelly added.
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. 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.”
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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.
