Five people in their 20s dead in horror crash as police issue statement

Three men and two women aged in their 20s have died in a two-car road crash in Co Louth on Saturday night, Irish police said.

Superintendent Charlie Armstrong, from Dundalk garda station, said all five young people were in the same vehicle, a Volswagen Golf. 

Another man also in the Golf and aged in his 20s, was rushed to hospital for treatment.

He said gardai are investigating all the circumstances of a fatal road traffic collision on the L3168 just outside Dundalk.

Police remain at the scene today with the road sealed off to allow investigation work to begin.

Gardai also confirmed that the bodies remain at the scene.

Superintendent Armstrong said: “An Garda Síochána are currently investigating all of the circumstances of a Fatal Road Traffic Collision here on the L3168, Gibstown, just outside Dundalk, Co. Louth. Yesterday evening, just after 9pm there was a serious Road Traffic Collision involving 2 vehicles, a Volkswagen Golf and a Toyota Landcruiser.

“Five occupants of the Volkswagen Golf (3 males and 2 females all in the early 20s) are deceased at the scene. One occupant of the Volkswagen Golf, a male in his 20s, was removed to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital Drogheda for treatment of serious, non-life threatening, injuries.

“The two occupants of the second vehicle, a male and a female, were also taken to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda for medical treatment for non-life threatening injuries. Family Liaison Officers have been appointed to each of the families to provide support and An Garda Síochána will keep the families updated as to the course of the ongoing investigation.

“I want to express my condolences and sympathies and the sympathies of every member of An Garda Síochána to the families of the five young adults who lost their lives yesterday evening in this Road Traffic Collision.

“Last night members of An Garda Síochána supported by other emergency services including Dundalk Fire Brigade, HSE Paramedics and staff at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital Drogheda initiated a major incident response.

“The scene here on the L3168, Gibstown, remains closed today and a technical and forensic examination is being carried out by An Garda Síochána Forensic Collision investigators.

“An Garda Síochána have notified the local Coroner’s Office and the Office of the State Pathologist and Post Mortems will be carried out over the coming days.

“An incident room has been established at Dundalk Garda Station and an investigation has commenced under a Senior Investigating Officer.

“I want to acknowledge and express my gratitude to my colleagues in An Garda Síochána and the other emergency service who attended the scene last night. The scene was very difficult, in adverse weather conditions and the professionalism shown by all first responders and the care and respect shown to the five deceased was exemplary.

“This tragedy, with the loss of five young adults will have a deep impact on families and local communities in Carrickmacross, Dromconrath and in Scotland. This is a shocking, devastating event for these families, their communities and the community here in Dundalk.

“I want to take the opportunity to appeal to any person with any information on this road traffic collision to contact the investigation team at Dundalk Garda Station.

“I am appealing to any person who was on the L3168 between 8.30pm and 9.15pm, last night Saturday 15th November 2025 to contact the Garda Investigation Team. I am appealing to any person who might have any camera footage or images from the L3168, Gibstown area between 8.30pm and 9.15pm, last night Saturday 15th November 2025 to give that footage or images to the investigation team at Dundalk Garda Station.

“The investigation team can be contacted at Dundalk Garda station on 042 9388400, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station. Finally, I once again want to express my sympathies to the families of the 5 young people who lost their lives yesterday evening. I appeal for privacy for the families at this time.”

Independent Ireland MEP Ciaran Mullooly said in a statement: “Waking up on this day to hear such distressing news from a road accident in county Louth – thoughts and prayers with the families of those who have lost their lives, the injured and the emergency services dealing with the situation at the scene. RIP.”