Four people have been killed after the car they were travelling in on the wrong side of the M9 motorway crashed head-on into another vehicle early Sunday morning. It is reported that the BMW in which the deceased were travelling had failed to stop for Gardaí prior to the horror crash.
In addition to the four deceased, who have not yet been identified, three women and a 7-year old girl – who were travelling to Dublin Airport in a Hyundai car at the time of crash – were left with critical and serious injuries and have all been hospitalised.
Emergency services were called to the scene of the crash on the M9 northbound near Moone in Kildare shortly after 3am.
Two of the women in their 30s and the young girl are all members of the same family. The fourth occupant of the Hyundai is a woman in her 20s.
Gardaí said: “The female driver and female front passenger, both aged in their 30s of the second car have been removed from the scene to Tallaght University Hospital and both remain in critical condition. A female rear seat passenger, aged in her 20s was taken to St. Luke’s General Hospital and is in serious condition. The third passenger, a child has been removed to Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) at Crumlin and is in serious condition.”
The Garda Ombudsman, Fiosrú, has also been notified of the incident as the car travelling the wrong way down the motorway had interacted with gardaí prior to the crash, the Irish Independent reports.
“It is understood that the BMW had earlier failed to stop for gardaí and later made its way onto the motorway on the wrong side, with gardaí immediately told to stand down from engaging with the vehicle”.
Gardaí said that “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 3:00am.
“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 junction 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.”
“The section of the M9 from Junction 3 to Junction 4 northbound and southbound remains closed with local diversions in place. A Garda Forensic Collision examination will take place in due course.”“Gardaí are appealing for any persons who may have witnessed this collision to come forward.
“Gardaí are appealing to road users who were travelling on the M9 northbound or southbound between 2:00am and 3:00am this morning Sunday 16th August, 2026 and who may have dashcam footage of the incident or surrounding area to make this footage available to investigating Gardaí.
“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. Investigations are ongoing.”
The Road Safety Authority extended its deepest sympathies to the families and friends of those who have lost their lives in the tragic collision.
In a statement, Nuala Carey, Interim Director of Partnerships & External Affairs at the Road Safety Authority, added:“Our thoughts are with all those affected by this terrible tragedy. Behind every road death is a person who will not return home to their family and loved ones, and a profound loss that will forever change the lives of those left behind.
“While the circumstances of this collision are a matter for the ongoing Garda investigation, we must continue to work collectively to prevent further loss of life on our roads. Road safety is a shared responsibility, and we all have a role to play in making our roads safer.”