Two killed in road accident

Two men were killed in a road accident involving a minibus and two other vehicles last night.

Sixteen people on the minibus and two other people travelling in one of the other vehicles were rushed to hospital after the pile-up on the N9 in Co Kildare.

Gardaí said the crash involving a car, the minibus and a pick-up truck occurred shortly after 8.30pm between Kilcullen and Castledermot, close to Ballytore.

Two men who were travelling in one vehicle, one aged in his 20s and the other in his 50s, were killed.

Gardaí said the 16 people on the minibus were taken to Naas General Hospital, where their condition is not known.

At least two other people, who it is believed were travelling in the third vehicle, were removed to hospital.

Gardaí said the N9 near the scene of the crash has been shut and is expected to remain closed for several hours.

Gardaí investigating the crash appealed for anyone who was travelling in the area at the time of the accident to contact officers in Kildare.