The fundraiser for sisters Ella Hendricken, Niamh Kinsella and Alma Kinsella is growing quickly as folk horrified at the awful wrong-way crash on the M9 try to help the family
A fundraiser has been set up for the hurt victims of a horror car crash that saw five teenagers killed and four other people injured.
The deadly crash, which took place County Kildare, happened when a group of young men and boys drove the wrong way up a motorway and collided with another vehicle containing at least four people. Two women are in a critical condition, while another woman and a seven-year-old boy are in a serious condition after the head-on collision.
It is believed that the passengers were heading back from the airport when the horror crash took place.
In the other car, five teenagers were killed following the collision. They have been named locally as Joe Carthy, Alex McCarthy, Kamil Pustkowski, Jeremy O’Brien and Jack Kennedy, according to Irish broadcaster RTÉ News.
The incident has provoked an outpouring of sadness both in Ireland and across the wider world, with the country’s President describing it as causing ‘untold grief’.
The Irish Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly described the crash as a “horrific incident” caused by “irresponsible and dangerous driving”.
He said: “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.”
Kelly added that police “do what they can to stop such vehicles while also taking into consideration all other road users”.
It is not clear what prompted the teenagers to drive the wrong way down a motorway, although Irish officials have linked it to a worrying trend that saw two other similar incidents reported in previous weeks.
And now, a fundraiser page has been set up to raise money for the victims in hospital, named on the page and in the media as Ella Hendricken, Niamh Kinsella and Alma Kinsella.
The post, made on fundraising site GoFundMe, reads: “Hi my name is Bryan and I’m setting up this fundraiser for my best friend Ella and her sisters, Niamh and Alma, who were recently involved in a serious road traffic accident.
This has been an incredibly difficult and frightening time for Ella, Niamh, Alma and their family. They are facing a long and challenging road ahead, and right now, I ask that you keep them all in your thoughts & prayers. All funds going directly to the family”.
The page has already raised over 200,000 euros (£171,000).