A number of people have died after a collision involving a car driving on the wrong side of the M9 motorway in Co Kildare.
The two-car crash happened at Moone on the M9 Northbound at Junction 3 at around 3am this morning.
A vehicle was travelling southbound on the northbound carriageway of the M9 when it hit a second car.
Gardaí said a number of fatalities have been confirmed, but that it could not provide further details at this time.
At least four others have been seriously injured, two in a critical condition.
The female driver and front passenger of the second car, both in their 30s, are in a critical condition in Tallaght University Hospital.
A female back seat passenger, in her 20s, was taken to St Luke’s Hospital after she sustained serious injuries.
A child, who was also a passenger in the second car, has been taken to Children’s Health Ireland in Crumlin and is in a serious condition.
Fiosrú, the Office of the Police Ombudsman, has been notified of the head-on collision.
Its on-call team of investigators attended the scene and an independent investigation is ongoing.
The watchdog said a Fiosrú investigation relates to incidents involving contact with gardaí where a member of the public has died or been seriously injured.
It said a referral does not necessarily mean a garda or gardaí have been accused of wrongdoing.
“Instead, it means that Fiosrú should independently investigate the incident to ascertain whether or not the act or omission of a garda or gardaí may have resulted in the death of, or serious harm to, a person,” it added.
The section of the M9 from Junction 3 to Junction 4 northbound and southbound remains closed for a forensic examination with local diversions in place.
Gardaí have appealed for anyone who was travelling on the M9 northbound or southbound between 2am and 3am to come forward.
They are particularly interested in hearing from anyone who may have dashcam footage of the incident.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Athy Garda Station on 01 666 6000, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any garda station.