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M9 Motorway Crash: Five Teens Dead in Wrong-Way Collision
Five teenagers were killed in a head-on collision on the M9 motorway in County Kildare, Ireland, after their stolen BMW was driven the wrong way along the northbound carriageway. The crash occurred around 3:00 am on Sunday, August 16, when the BMW struck a Hyundai carrying a family of four. The occupants of the Hyundai, including three sisters and a seven-year-old boy, were transported to various hospitals with serious or critical injuries.
The deceased teenagers have been identified as Joey Carthy, 15; Alex McCarthy, 17; Jack Kennedy, 17; Kamil Pustkowski, 17; and Jeremy O’Brien, 18. Authorities are investigating whether the group was involved in a recent string of burglaries and vehicle thefts in the Kildare and Carlow regions.
Public concern has been raised regarding the role of social media in encouraging dangerous driving. Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly noted that some reckless driving is performed specifically to gain social media likes. Videos previously posted by the youths appeared to show high-speed driving and police pursuits. In response, the Irish Minister for Justice, Jim O’Callaghan, called on social media companies to take greater responsibility for content that glorifies criminal behavior.
A GoFundMe campaign has been established to support the injured family, raising hundreds of thousands of euros to assist with their recovery.
Entities
County Kildare · Garda Síochána · Jim O'Callaghan · Jim O’Callaghan · Justin Kelly · M9 motorway
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 3 SOURCES] The BMW involved in the collision was a stolen vehicle. www.limerickpost.ie · internewscast.com · tdpelmedia.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] A GoFundMe campaign for the injured family has raised hundreds of thousands of euros. www.newstalk.com · www.ladbible.com · gript.ie
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Road policing officers do not have specific training for high-speed pursuits. www.brasilemfolhas.com.br
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The Minister for Justice stated that social media companies must take responsibility for not allowing posts that glorify criminal behavior. www.insurancejournal.com
- [● 6 SOURCES] Four occupants of the Hyundai were hospitalized with serious or critical injuries. www.brasilemfolhas.com.br · www.limerickpost.ie · www.medlabnews.gr · www.newstalk.com · www.fakt.pl · +1 more
- [● 6 SOURCES] The five teenagers died in a head-on collision on the M9 motorway in County Kildare. www.brasilemfolhas.com.br · www.limerickpost.ie · internewscast.com · www.demotivateur.fr · tdpelmedia.com · +1 more
- [● 2 SOURCES] The teenagers were suspected of involvement in a series of burglaries and vehicle thefts in the Kildare and Carlow areas. internewscast.com · metro.co.uk
- [● 3 SOURCES] Reckless driving is sometimes performed to gain social media likes. www.insurancejournal.com · www.letribunaldunet.fr · metro.co.uk