Five teenage boys have died and four other people have been hospitalized following a devastating two-vehicle crash on the M9 Northbound at Junction 3 in County Kildare. The collision occurred around 03:00 local time on Sunday, according to Gardaí.

The vehicle carrying the five teenage boys was traveling on the wrong side of the carriageway when it collided head-on with a second car. The bodies of the five boys have been removed from the scene to Naas General Hospital for post-mortem examinations.

The driver and front passenger of the second vehicle, both women in their 30s, sustained critical injuries and were taken to Tallaght University Hospital. A female rear seat passenger in her 20s was transported to St. Luke's General Hospital and is in serious condition. A child, the third passenger in the second car, is receiving treatment at Children's Health Ireland at Crumlin, also in a serious condition.

Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly described the incident as "horrific" and attributed the crash to "irresponsible and dangerous driving." He highlighted that such reckless behavior, sometimes done for social media attention, can have devastating consequences for innocent road users.

Irish broadcaster RTÉ reported that Gardaí confirmed no pursuit was underway at the time of the collision. The Office of the Police Ombudsman (Fiosrú) has been notified and has launched an independent investigation into the incident, as is standard procedure when a member of the public dies or is seriously injured following contact with Gardaí.

Fiosrú stated that their investigation aims to ascertain whether any action or inaction by Gardaí may have contributed to the fatalities or serious injuries, emphasizing that a referral does not imply wrongdoing by officers.

Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh, Sinn Féin TD for Kildare South, described the scene as "absolutely catastrophic" and extended deep sympathies to the affected families and admiration for the first responders who encountered "the most horrific of scenes."

The M9 remains closed in both directions between Junction 3 and Junction 4, with local diversions in place. The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the tragic event is ongoing.