8 teens and one man, 20s, injured after car drove wrong way down M50 ramp & collided ‘head on’ with second vehicle

EIGHT teenagers and a man have been injured after a car drove the wrong way onto the M50.

The horror head-one crash between two vehicles took place at around 5:30am at junction 12 on the motorway going southbound.

Gardai were alerted to a vehicle driving northbound on the southbound road.

In a statement they said: “The vehicle was driving down the up ramp at Junction 12 when it collided head on with a car”.

All occupants, eight male teens, who were in the vehicle were injured and were rushed to a number of different hospitals for treatment.

Gardai said one of the youths remains in a “critical condition”.

The male driver of the second car, aged in his 20s, was also taken to hospital with “serious” injuries.

The M50 from junction 11 to junction 12 southbound was closed and diversions put place.

A garda spokesperson said: “Gardai in Tallaght are appealing for witnesses following a serious injury road traffic collision that occurred on the M50 southbound at Junction 12, Firhouse, Dublin 24 in the early hours of this morning Sunday 9th August, 2026 at approximately 5:30am.

“Gardai and emergency services were alerted to a vehicle travelling northbound on the southbound carriageway of the M50.

“The vehicle was driving down the up ramp at Junction 12 when it collided head on with a car.

“A total of eight occupants, all male juveniles who were in the vehicle were transported to a number of different hospitals for treatment. One of the youths remains in a critical condition.

“The male driver of the second car, aged in his 20s was injured and removed from the scene to hospital. His injuries are described as serious.

“The section of the M50 from Junction 12 to Junction 11 southbound remains closed with local diversions in place. A Garda Forensic Collision examination is taking place.”

Gardai are appealing for any persons who may have witnessed this collision to come forward.

The spokesperson added: “Gardai are appealing to road users who were travelling on the M50 between Junction 14 and Junction 11 northbound or southbound between 5am and 5:30am this morning Sunday 9th August, 2026 and who may have dashcam footage of the incident or surrounding area to make this footage available to investigating Gardai.

“Anyone with information is asked to contact Tallaght Garda Station on 01 666 6000, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station. Investigations are ongoing.”