'A number of fatalities' and four seriously injured, including a child, in head-on Kildare crash

A vehicle was driving on the M9 between junctions 3 and 4 when a head-on collision occurred with a second car. File picture

"A number" of people have been killed and four others, including a child, have been seriously injured following a crash in Co Kildare.

Gardaí in Athy were alerted to a vehicle travelling southbound on the northbound carriageway of the M9 in the early hours of Sunday, at around 3am. 

The vehicle was driving on the M9 between junctions 3 and 4 when a head-on collision occurred with a second car.

Gardaí said: "A number of fatalities have occurred and no further details are available at this time".  

A statement said that the female driver and front passenger of the second car, who are both in their 30s, 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.

Gardaí said they are investigating "all the circumstances" of the collision. 

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 to anyone who may have witnessed the collision to come forward.

Road users who were travelling on the M9 northbound or southbound between 2am and 3am on Sunday August 16, 2026, and who may have dashcam footage of the incident or surrounding area are asked 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, gardaí said. Fiosrú, the office of the Garda Ombudsman, has been notified of the collision.