M9 crash horror as multiple dead and four injured including child in County Kildare

M9 crash horror as multiple dead and four injured including child in County Kildare A head on crash with a car understood to have been travelling on the wrong side of the M9 in County Kildare, Ireland, has led to 'a number of fatalities' Multiple people have been killed and four injured have been taken to hospital following a head-on crash in County Kildare. The collision took place on the M9 Northbound between Junction 3 and 4 at around 3am this morning with Gardai saying a vehicle was travelling on the wrong side of the road. Gardaí said there was a head on crash and a "number of fatalities". The precise number of deaths have not been given but Gardai said three adults and a child were also seriously injured in the crash, two of whom are in critical condition. The driver and front passenger, both female and 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 a serious condition. The third passenger, a child, has been removed to Children's Health Ireland (CHI) at Crumlin and is in a serious condition. Both sides of the M9 by the crash scene remain closed this morning as Gardaí carry out a technical examination. Garda Forensic Collision Investigators are attending the incident. 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, reported CorkBeo. 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." 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.