M50 wrong-way crash leaves nine in hospital including eight teenagers

Nine people required hospital treatment following a high-impact head-on collision on the M50 motorway in Dublin. The incident unfolded in the early hours of Sunday morning, drawing a major emergency response, prolonged road closures, and a formal referral to police oversight authorities.

According to details shared by the BBC and the Irish Times, emergency services and An Garda Síochána received urgent alerts at approximately 05:30 local time. A vehicle carrying eight male juveniles was travelling northbound on the southbound carriageway of the M50 motorway. Investigators established that the car had entered the motorway network by driving down the up ramp at Junction 12, located in Firhouse, County Dublin. The vehicle then struck another car head-on while travelling on the incorrect path.

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The eight male youths inside the wrong-way vehicle were transported across a number of different hospitals to receive medical care. Authorities confirmed that one of the teenagers remains in a critical condition. The driver of the second vehicle, a man in his twenties, sustained serious injuries in the impact and was also rushed to hospital.

A significant stretch of the M50 southbound, spanning from Junction 12 to Junction 11, remained closed off as Sunday afternoon progressed. Local diversions were implemented while specialized Garda forensic collision examination units worked extensively at the scene. Furthermore, Fiosrú, the Office of the Police Ombudsman, has been formally notified regarding the incident.

In a separate late-night transport emergency also reported in the early hours of Sunday morning, another young driver was seriously injured in County Kerry. That collision, involving a bus and a car, occurred at Aghatubrid in Caherciveen at approximately 05:00. The male car driver, who is in his twenties, sustained serious injuries and was subsequently transported to Cork University Hospital. That regional road is currently closed and awaits examination by Garda technical staff, with local diversions remaining in place.

Investigation and Appeal Details

• Location: M50 southbound at Junction 12 in Firhouse, County Dublin.
• Vehicles Involved: One car carrying eight male juveniles travelling up an exit ramp into oncoming traffic; second car driven by a man in his twenties.
• Casualties: Nine total hospitalized, including eight teenagers (one currently in critical condition) and the adult driver of the second car with serious injuries.
• Current Status: M50 southbound closed from Junction 12 to Junction 11; Fiosrú notified; Garda forensic examination underway.

An Garda Síochána is appealing for witnesses to the M50 incident to come forward, including those who were travelling on the M50 in either direction between Junction 11 and Junction 14. authorities have appealed for anyone travelling in the area between 05:00 and 05:30, or anyone possessing dashcam footage of the incident or surrounding areas, to make it available to investigators. Anyone with relevant information is asked to contact Tallaght Garda station on 01 666 6000, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.

Separately, Gardaí have appealed for witnesses to the County Kerry crash. Anyone who was travelling on the N70 at Aghatubrid between 4:30am and 5:00am and who may possess dashcam footage of that incident or the surrounding area is urged to contact Killarney Garda station on 064 667 1160, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.