Gardaí are investigating a serious collision involving two cars on the N2 at Blakestown, near Ardee in Co Louth, which left five people requiring hospital treatment. The crash occurred on Sunday evening at approximately 11.40pm, according to The Journal.
Emergency services attended the scene, and all five casualties were brought to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda.
Four of those injured were travelling in the same vehicle: two men, one in his fifties and one in his late teens, along with two women, one in her fifties and one in her twenties. The Journal reports that all four were treated for serious injuries.
The fifth casualty, a man in his thirties who was in the second car, was also taken to Drogheda. His injuries are understood to be non-life-threatening.
Why it matters
The N2 is a key route linking Dublin with the north-east of the country, and incidents on it affect travel well beyond the immediate area. The road has been shut since the crash to allow Forensic Collision Investigators to carry out a technical examination, with diversions in place for motorists.
The case also highlights the role of public appeals in collision investigations. Gardaí are relying on accounts and footage from people who passed through the area in the minutes around the crash, and such material can prove central to establishing what happened.
What investigators are asking for
Gardaí have issued a direct appeal to anyone who witnessed the collision to come forward. They are also seeking help from road users who were on the N2 at Blakestown between 11.20pm and 11.50pm on Sunday — the half-hour window around the time of the crash.
In particular, investigators want to hear from drivers or passengers who may have recorded footage in that period, including dash-cam video, and are asking for such material to be provided to them.
Anyone with information can contact Drogheda Garda Station on 041 987 4200, ring the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or speak to any garda station.
The Journal reports that the road remains closed while the forensic examination continues.
Investigations into the circumstances of the collision are ongoing, and the road closure and diversion arrangements will remain in place until the examination is complete.
