Multiple deaths have been reported on the M9 after a car travelling in the wrong direction collided with another vehicle at around 3am in Co Kildare.
The collision occurred on the M9 northbound at Junction 3.
Gardaí have confirmed a number of fatalities among those travelling in the vehicle that was driving the wrong way.
Four people in the other car, including a child, have been taken to hospital with serious injuries. It is understood they were travelling towards Dublin Airport when the collision occurred.
Gardaí remain at the scene as efforts to identify those involved continue.
The M9 remains closed in both directions between Junction 3 and Junction 4, with local diversions in place.
The female driver and female front-seat passenger of the second vehicle, both aged in their 30s, were taken to Tallaght University Hospital, where they remain in a critical condition.
A woman aged in her 20s, who was travelling in the rear of the vehicle, was taken to St Luke’s General Hospital in Kilkenny with serious injuries.
A child who was also travelling in the rear of the car was brought to Children’s Health Ireland at Crumlin and is being treated for serious injuries.
Gardaí said a forensic collision examination will take place at the scene as part of the investigation.
They are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed the crash, particularly motorists who were travelling on the M9 between 2am and 3am this morning.
Anyone with dashcam footage of the collision or the surrounding area is also being asked to make it available to investigating Gardaí.
Transport Infrastructure Ireland has warned motorists of significant delays and advised road users to consider alternative routes while the motorway remains closed.
Fiosrú has been notified of the incident by An Garda Síochána, as Gardaí had interacted with the vehicle travelling in the wrong direction before the crash.
Fiosrú said one of its on-call investigators attended the scene and that an independent investigation is now under way.
The organisation said its investigation relates to incidents involving contact with Gardaí where a member of the public has died or been seriously injured.
It stressed that a referral does not necessarily mean that a member of An Garda Síochána has been accused of wrongdoing.
Instead, Fiosrú will independently examine the circumstances to establish whether any action or omission by Gardaí may have contributed to a person's death or serious injury.
The M9 crash comes after another serious wrong-way incident on Dublin's M50 last weekend, when a stolen car travelling in the wrong direction collided with an oncoming vehicle.
Nine people were taken to hospital following that collision, including a 13-year-old who was left in a critical condition.
Fiosrú is also investigating that incident after the stolen vehicle had interacted with Gardaí before the crash.
Investigations into the M9 collision are ongoing.
