Four young women have been killed in a road accident in County Kildare.
It's understood they were college friends and were studying at NUI Maynooth.
A fifth young women who was travelling in the same car was seriously injured in the crash
It's believed they were on their way back to university after the Christmas holidays when their car collided with a van at Birdstown, around 3 miles from Junction 3 on the M9.
The accident happened shortly before 10pm.
Two men travelling in the van were seriously hurt in the crash.
All of the injured were taken to Naas General Hospital.
The road at the scene of the accident is expected to remain closed for much of Wednesday - to facilitate a forensic collision examination.
Diversions are place and gardaí are appealing for anyone who witnessed the accident to contact them at Athy.
