A number of people have died and others have been seriously injured in a crash involving a car driving in the wrong direction on a motorway in Co Kildare, Irish police said.

A gardaí spokesperson said two vehicles were involved in a head-on collision on the northbound M9.

Gardaí said they are investigating the circumstances of the crash at junction 3 at about 3am on Sunday.

One of those seriously injured in the crash is a child.

Emergency services were alerted to a vehicle travelling southbound on the M9 northbound carriageway.

The vehicle was travelling between junctions 3 and 4 when it collided head-on with another car.

The wreckage of the crash was visible on the motorway on Sunday morning.

A gardaí spokesperson said: “A number of fatalities have occurred and no further details are available at this time.”

The spokesperson said the female driver and front-seat passenger, both aged in their 30s, of the second car have been taken to Tallaght University Hospital and both remain in critical condition.

A female rear-seat passenger, aged in her 20s, was taken to St Luke’s General Hospital and is in a serious condition.

The third passenger, a child, has been taken to the Children’s Health Ireland at Crumlin and is in a serious condition.

The M9 from junction 3 to junction 4 northbound and southbound remains closed with local diversions in place.

A garda forensic collision examination will take place.

Gardaí are appealing for anyone who may have witnessed the collision to come forward.

Fiosrú, the Office of the Police Ombudsman, has been notified.

A statement from Fiosrú said: “The referral was made following a fatal road traffic incident on the M9.

“One of Fiosrú’s on-call team of investigators attended the scene and its independent investigation is ongoing.

“In line with its statutory remit, Fiosrú’s investigation relates to incidents involving contact with gardaí where a member of the public has died or been seriously injured.”

The statement added: “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.

“As the matter is now under investigation, pursuant to section 208(1)(b) of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024, Fiosrú cannot make any further comment.”