# Motorway collisions in Ireland > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/motorway-collisions-in-ireland > Updated: 2026-08-16T08:38:11.000Z. Sources: 22. Developments: 2. In August 2026, two separate serious vehicle collisions involving wrong-way driving occurred on Irish motorways. On August 9, a two-vehicle collision took place on the M50 in Dublin near Junction 12. The incident involved a vehicle traveling northbound on the southbound carriageway, resulting in nine hospitalizations. Among the injured were eight male teenagers and a man in his 20s. The Office of the Police Ombudsman, Fiosrú, launched an independent investigation into the matter. On August 16, a head-on collision occurred on the M9 motorway in County Kildare at Junction 3. At approximately 3:00 AM, a BMW traveling southbound on the northbound carriageway struck a Hyundai. The collision resulted in the deaths of five teenagers. Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly described the incident as ‘horrific’ and noted that such reckless driving is sometimes motivated by a desire for social media likes. Reports indicate the BMW had previously failed to stop for Gardaí. Because the vehicle had interacted with police prior to the collision, the matter has been referred to Fiosrú. Four occupants of the Hyundai sustained serious injuries: a female driver and a front-seat passenger, both in their 30s, remain in critical condition at Tallaght University Hospital; a woman in her 20s is in serious condition at St. Luke’s General Hospital; and a seven-year-old girl is being treated at Children’s Health Ireland. The victims in the Hyundai were reportedly traveling toward Dublin Airport. Gardaí closed the M9 in both directions between Junction 3 and Junction 4 for a forensic collision examination and have appealed for dashcam footage. ## Claims - Two women in their 30s are in critical condition at Tallaght University Hospital. (disputed by 9 sources) - Four people were taken to hospital following the collision. (disputed by 6 sources) - Five teenage males died in the crash. (disputed by 5 sources) - A female driver and a front-seat passenger, both in their 30s, are in critical condition at Tallaght University Hospital. (disputed by 4 sources) - A child is in serious condition at Children’s Health Ireland. (corroborated by 9 sources) - The collision occurred at approximately 3:00 AM on Sunday, August 16, at Junction 3 of the M9 Northbound. (corroborated by 7 sources) - A number of people died in a head-on collision on the M9. (corroborated by 6 sources) - One vehicle was traveling southbound on the northbound carriageway of the M9. (corroborated by 6 sources) - Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly suggested some drivers travel on the wrong side of motorways to gain social media likes. (corroborated by 5 sources) - A head-on collision occurred on the M9 motorway northbound at Junction 3. (corroborated by 4 sources) ## Timeline ### 2026-08-16: M9 motorway collision in Ireland kills five teenagers Five teenagers were killed and four others, including a child, seriously injured in a head-on collision on Ireland's M9 motorway after a vehicle was driven the wrong way. 21 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/m9-motorway-collision-in-co-kildare-results-in-multiple-fatalities ### 2026-08-09: M50 collision leaves nine injured after wrong-way driving Nine people, including eight teenagers and a man in his 20s, were injured in a head-on collision on Dublin's M50 after a car traveled the wrong way on the southbound carriageway. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/m50-collision-leaves-nine-injured-after-wrong-way-driving --- Cite as: Motorway collisions in Ireland. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/motorway-collisions-in-ireland