‘Absolute chaos’ – Woman hospitalised in five car crash on M1 as commuters face long delays
Katie Finnegan and Maeve McTaggart
Drogheda Independent
A woman in her 80s has been hospitalised with serious injuries following a five vehicle collision on the M1 northbound earlier today.
Emergency services attended the scene between junction 7, Julianstown, and junction 8, Duleek in Co Louth shortly before 12pm, with the nature of the crash requiring the full closure of the road.
A woman in her 80s was brought to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda for the treatment of serious injuries.
The technical examination of the scene was expedited by Gardaí and the road has fully reopened, however long delays remain.
As traffic is rerouted off the motorway, increased congestion is expected on surrounding regional and local roads, including routes through Drogheda.
Motorists are being advised to avoid the area where possible and to use alternative routes.
Local TD Ged Nash said some frustrated motorists had been observed driving the wrong way up the hard shoulder in an attempt to return to Junction 7, describing the situation as “absolute chaos”.
“First and foremost, let’s hope everyone involved is safe. In the end, that’s all that matters,” he said.
Deputy Nash raised concerns regarding the lack of advance warning for motorists approaching the affected stretch of road.
“No mobile signage was deployed at either Junction 7 or Junction 6 to advise motorists to avoid and divert, even though Transport Infrastructure Ireland’s X feed indicates the incident occurred some time before many motorists reached the area,” he said.
Deputy Nash said he had contacted Transport Infrastructure Ireland and other relevant bodies seeking answers and updates, and added that when the road reopens, the toll should be lifted to help relieve pressure on Drogheda’s road network.
Road users are urged to allow extra time for their journeys and to follow directions from emergency services and traffic management personnel on the ground.
