A group of five young people in their early twenties have lost their lives in a devastating two-vehicle collision in County Louth on Saturday night, in what Irish police have described as a 'shocking and devastating' incident.
Tragic Details of the Collision
The fatal crash occurred just after 9pm at Gibstown, Co Louth, and involved a Volkswagen Golf. It is understood the group were travelling to socialise in Dundalk, a town situated close to the border with Northern Ireland, when the tragedy unfolded.
Emergency services rushed to the scene where they discovered three men and two women had died at the location. Three other individuals, including another person in his early twenties, sustained injuries and were transported to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda for medical treatment.
Emergency Response and Official Reactions
Gardai and emergency services initiated a major incident response, working through adverse weather conditions to manage the difficult scene. Superintendent Charlie Armstrong expressed his profound condolences to the families affected by this heartbreaking event.
'I want to express my condolences and sympathies and the sympathies of every member of An Garda Siochana to the families of the five young adults who lost their lives yesterday evening in this road traffic collision,' he stated near the crash site.
He praised the professionalism of first responders, noting that 'the care and respect shown to the five deceased was exemplary' despite the challenging circumstances.
Taoiseach Micheal Martin expressed being 'numbed and shocked at the horrific road crash', while Tanaiste Simon Harris observed that 'a veil of deep sadness and shock has come over our country' following the news.
Broader Impact and Road Safety Reminder
The tragedy has deeply affected communities in Carrickmacross, Dromconrath and in Scotland, highlighting the far-reaching consequences of the incident.
Superintendent Liam Geraghty pointed out the grim coincidence that authorities were speaking about the crash on the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims. He emphasised how the events serve as a stark reminder of how quickly circumstances can change on the roads.
'As we stand here today, 157 people have lost their lives on Irish roads so far this year in 2025,' he revealed, noting this represents a slight increase compared to the same period in 2024.
The L3168 road where the collision occurred remains closed as gardai conduct technical and forensic examinations. Police are appealing to anyone with information about the incident to come forward and assist with their investigation.
