Five young adults have lost their lives and three others have been injured following a road collision in Dundalk, County Louth.

All of those who died were aged under 25 and came from various parts of the northeast region.

The five were travelling together in a car that crashed into another vehicle on the Ardee Road at Gibstown shortly after 9pm last night.

One of the injured individuals had been in the same car, while the remaining two injured people were occupants of the second vehicle.

It is believed the group who died may have been on their way to a social gathering when the incident happened.

The area has been sealed off to allow Garda Forensic Collision Investigators to carry out a technical examination.

Both the L3168 and the Ardee Road remain closed, with local diversions currently in place.

Gardaí are asking anyone who saw the collision or who may have dash-cam footage from the area between 8.30pm and 9.15pm last night to come forward.

Local representatives have described the incident as “horrific.”

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