A fifth person has been found dead at the scene of the M9 motorway crash near Athy, Ireland, after a BMW was driven on the wrong direction down the northbound carriageway
A fifth individual has tragically lost their life in the aftermath of the M9 horror crash, it has been revealed. The body of another young male was discovered at the accident site on Sunday afternoon.
Initially it was suspected that the crash – which occurred around 3am – had claimed the lives of four young males. However, sources have confirmed that officers found the body of an additional victim in the wreckage of one of the vehicles this afternoon.
It is understood that all the victims were young males. Furthermore, it is believed that all of the deceased were from the car that was travelling in the wrong direction down the northbound carriageway of the M9 near Athy when the catastrophe occurred, reports the Irish Mirror.
The vehicle, a BMW, was heading southbound against traffic when it collided with a car carrying four members of an extended family. Three women in the car, one in her 20s and two in their 30s, sustained injuries, as did a seven-year-old child. The child is believed to have suffered a broken leg and is receiving treatment at the Children’s Health Ireland Hospital in south Dublin.
The woman in her 20s was seriously injured and is being cared for at St Luke’s Hospital in Kilkenny. The two other women are receiving treatment at Tallaght Hospital in south Co Dublin.
Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly commented today: “My thoughts are with those injured in this morning’s collision on the M9. These family members were travelling innocently when they were struck by a vehicle being driven the wrong way down the motorway.
“This horrific incident, following the recent collision on the M50, shows how irresponsible and dangerous driving on the wrong-side of the motorway is. That, of course, should be self-evident, but what makes this reckless behaviour even more appalling is that in some cases it is being done for social media likes regardless of the potentially devastating impact it might have on innocent people and themselves.
“As this particular incident has been referred to Fiosrú, the Police Ombudsman, I am constrained in what I can say in detail about this incident, but I know that Gardaí do what they can to stop such vehicles while also taking into consideration all other road users. Gardaí are put in a really challenging situation dealing with such incidents. As always, An Garda Síochána will fully cooperate with the Police Ombudsman investigation which I hope is completed as expeditiously as possible.
“My thoughts are also with all members of An Garda Síochána and the emergency services who had to deal with this awful incident this morning. Such incidents show the difficult work we ask our Gardaí to undertake every day to keep our communities safe.”