Woman, 80s, dies following five-vehicle crash on M1 in Co Meath 

The incident happened shortly after 11.10am on the M1 northbound at Platin, Drogheda, just before the toll bridge. Picture: Dan Linehan

A woman has died following a five-car crash in Co Meath last Friday. 

The collision occurred shortly after 11.10am on December 19 on the M1 northbound at Platin, Drogheda, just before the toll bridge. 

Three people were taken to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda for treatment. Gardaí announced on Tuesday that one of them, a woman in her 80s, has since passed away. 

The coroner has been notified, and an autopsy will take place in due course. 

Gardaí said a Senior Investigating Officer has been appointed to lead the investigation, and they are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed the collision to contact them.

Any road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) and were travelling in the area at the time are asked to make this footage available to investigating gardaí.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Ashbourne Garda Station on [phone], the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.

"Investigations are ongoing," a Garda spokesperson said. 

The crash follows an increase in the number of road fatalities in 2025. According to Garda statistics, 186 people have died on Irish roads this year, 19 more than this time last year.

It comes as senior gardaí said they are "very worried" at the surge in arrests of the number of people who are driving under the influence of both drugs and alcohol, and that "people are not listening" to the Christmas road safety campaign.