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Fifth person found dead in wrong-way motorway driver crash as police find new body

A fifth person has been found dead at the scene of the M9 motorway crash near Athy, Ireland, after a BMW was driven on the wrong direction down the northbound carriageway

[The crash has claimed the lives of five people]

The crash has claimed the lives of five people(Image: Niall Carson/PA Wire/PA Images)

Police have confirmed the bodies of the five teenage males have now been removed from the scene of a road crash on the M9 in Co Kildare and taken to Naas General Hospital where post-mortem examinations will take place.

The occupants of the second vehicle involved in the crash, three women, two in their 30s, one in her 20s, and a male child, all remain in hospital continuing to receive treatment for serious injuries. The road is expected to reopen shortly. Initially it was suspected that the crash - which occurred around 3am - had claimed the lives of four young males. However, sources have confirmed that officers found the body of an additional victim in the wreckage of one of the vehicles this afternoon.

It is understood that all the victims were young males. Furthermore, it is believed that all of the deceased were from the car that was travelling in the wrong direction down the northbound carriageway of the M9 near Athy when the catastrophe occurred, reports the Irish Mirror.

[A Gardai spokesperson said the incident on Sunday morning at 3am occurred when one of the cars was travelling in the wrong direction]

A Gardai spokesperson said the incident on Sunday morning at 3am occurred when one of the cars was travelling in the wrong direction

The vehicle, a BMW, was heading southbound against traffic when it collided with a car carrying four members of an extended family. Three women in the car, one in her 20s and two in their 30s, sustained injuries, as did a seven-year-old child. The child is believed to have suffered a broken leg and is receiving treatment at the Children's Health Ireland Hospital in south Dublin.

The woman in her 20s was seriously injured and is being cared for at St Luke's Hospital in Kilkenny. The two other women are receiving treatment at Tallaght Hospital in south Co Dublin.

Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly commented today: "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.

[The fatal head-on road crash happened at around 3am on the M9 northbound near Castledermot, Co Kildare]

The fatal head-on road crash happened at around 3am on the M9 northbound near Castledermot, Co Kildare(Image: Niall Carson/PA Wire)

"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.

"As this particular incident has been referred to Fiosr, the Police Ombudsman, I am constrained in what I can say in detail about this incident, but I know that Garda do what they can to stop such vehicles while also taking into consideration all other road users. Garda are put in a really challenging situation dealing with such incidents. As always, An Garda Sochna will fully cooperate with the Police Ombudsman investigation which I hope is completed as expeditiously as possible.

[The scene on the M9 northbound at Junction 3 in Co Kildare where number of people have died and others have been seriously injured after a head-on collision between two cars]

The scene on the M9 northbound at Junction 3 in Co Kildare(Image: Niall Carson/PA Wire)

"My thoughts are also with all members of An Garda Sochna and the emergency services who had to deal with this awful incident this morning. Such incidents show the difficult work we ask our Garda to undertake every day to keep our communities safe."

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