Youth in critical condition and eight others hurt after head-on M50 collision

Gardaí at the scene of the crash on Sunday. Picture: Conor Ó Mearáin / Collins Photo Agency

A youth is critically ill and eight other people have been injured in a head-on collision on the M50 motorway in Dublin.

Gardaí said a vehicle was spotted travelling north on the southbound carriageway near junction 12 at Firhouse at about 5.30am on Sunday.

A spokesperson said: “Gardaí and emergency services were alerted to a vehicle travelling northbound on the southbound carriageway of the M50.

“The vehicle was driving down the up ramp at Junction 12 when it collided head-on with a car.

“A total of eight occupants, all male juveniles, who were in the vehicle were transported to a number of different hospitals for treatment.

“One of the youths remains in a critical condition.”

The male driver of the second car, aged in his 20s, was taken to hospital and gardaí describe his injuries as “serious”.

Gardaí have urged any road users who were travelling on the M50 between Junction 14 and Junction 11 northbound or southbound between 5am and 5.30am on Sunday to contact them, especially if they have dashcam footage.

Anyone with information can contact Tallaght Garda Station on 01 666 6000, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.

The crash is one of a number of serious collisions to occur across the weekend. 

In Kerry, a man in his 20s was left in a serious condition following a crash between a bus and a car in the N70 at Aghatubrid, Caherciveen.

On Saturday, four people were taken to hospital following a two-car crash in Kildare. 

Three occupants of one car were taken to hospital. The driver, a man in his 20s, was taken to Connolly Hospital. Two passengers, a man and a woman in their late teens, were taken to Tallaght University Hospital. The driver of the second car, a woman in her 50s, was taken to Tallaght University Hospital.

Meanwhile, three people were injured in a three-vehicle collision in Co Donegal.

A woman aged in her 20s was airlifted to Sligo University Hospital to receive treatment for injuries, while two others were treated at the scene.