Five teenage boys died after a car traveling the wrong way on the M9 motorway in County Kildare collided head‑on with a family vehicle early on Aug. 16. A 3‑year‑old boy and a woman in her 20s were seriously injured, while two women in their 30s are in critical condition. Gardaí said there was no police pursuit and warned that some wrong‑way driving appears motivated by social‑media attention. The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission has been notified and police are appealing for witnesses.
Five Teens Killed, 3-Year-Old and Three Women Seriously Injured in Wrong‑Way Head‑On Crash on M9 Motorway
Car crash on the M9 highway in County Kildare, Ireland, on Aug. 16Credit: Niall Carson/Alamy
Five teenage boys were killed and several members of a family were seriously injured after a car traveling the wrong way on the M9 motorway in County Kildare collided head‑on with another vehicle in the early hours of Sunday, Aug. 16.
The collision occurred at about 3 a.m. local time on the northbound carriageway near Junction 3. Gardaí (the Irish police) said a vehicle was driving southbound on the northbound side of the M9 between Junctions 3 and 4 when it struck a second car.
Five teenage boys died in a two-vehicle car crash in County Kildare, Ireland, on Aug. 16Credit: Niall Carson/Alamy
All five teenage boys who had been traveling together in the single vehicle were pronounced dead at the scene. Post‑mortem examinations are being carried out at Naas General Hospital.
The second vehicle was carrying a family. A 3‑year‑old boy and a female passenger in her 20s suffered serious injuries and remain hospitalized. The driver and front‑seat passenger of that car, both women in their 30s, were described by police as being in critical condition. Authorities have not publicly identified the family while they receive treatment.
Ireland's National Police Commissioner Justin KellyCredit: Niall Carson/Alamy
Police Response and Investigation
Gardaí have said there was no police pursuit at the time of the crash. A senior Garda official expressed sympathy for the victims and their families and warned about the extreme danger of driving the wrong way on a motorway.
Gardaí noted that wrong‑way driving is irresponsible and inherently dangerous — in some reported cases, such behaviour appears driven by attempts to gain social‑media attention despite the potentially devastating consequences.
An independent oversight body, the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC), has been notified and an external review has been launched. Gardaí said they will cooperate fully with the inquiry.
Appeal for Witnesses
Police are asking anyone who witnessed the collision or who has information to contact Athy Garda Station at 01 666 6000 or the Garda Confidential Line at 1800 666 111. Investigators are also reviewing any available camera footage and other evidence as they continue to establish the full circumstances of the crash.
PEOPLE magazine and local outlets have reported on the incident; authorities continue to provide updates as inquiries progress.
Help us improve.
