Five young people have died and three others have been injured in a road crash in Dundalk in Co Louth.

The three men and two women who died were all under the age of 25 and were from a number of areas across the northeast.

All five were travelling in a car which collided with another vehicle on the Ardee road at Gibstown just after 9pm last night.

One of those who was injured was in the same car. The other two people injured were in the other vehicle.

Gardaí have said the deceased were from Carrickmacross in Co Monaghan and Drumconrath in Co Meath, with one of the women from Scotland.

It’s understood that the deceased may have been travelling to a location to socialise when the crash occurred.

The scene has been preserved for a technical examination by Garda Forensic Collision Investigators.

The L3168 and the Ardee Road are currently closed and local diversions are in place.

Gardaí are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed the crash or may have dash cam footage from the areas between 8.30pm and 9.15pm last night to contact them.

Local representatives have described the crash as “horrific”.