Stolen Toyota Yaris with eight teenagers crashes on M50, nine hospitalised
A stolen Toyota Yaris carrying eight teenage boys was driving the wrong way on the M50 at 5.30am on Sunday, August 9, 2026, when it collided head-on with another car near Junction 12 Firhouse, Dublin. The Yaris had been stolen from the Rathmines area and had failed to stop for gardaí before the crash; the other car was driven by Craig, an electrical apprentice in his 20s. Nine people were hospitalised, including one 13-year-old in critical condition. A Fiosrú investigation was launched after An Garda Síochána made a referral on the morning of August 9, and gardaí believe video footage on the teenagers' phones may be key to their investigation.
- Reported10 Aug
2 reports - Arrested
- Charged
- In court
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- A stolen Toyota Yaris carrying eight teenage boys was driving the wrong way on the M50 when it collided head-on with another car near Junction 12 Firhouse, Dublin.
- Nine people were hospitalised, including one 13-year-old in critical condition and Craig, an electrical apprentice in his 20s, who was the driver of the other car.
- The vehicle was travelling above the 100km/h speed limit and had failed to stop for gardaí before going on to the M50.
- Where
- The Yaris had been stolen from the Rathmines area and was spotted by gardaí in several parts of south and west Dublin before the crash.
- When
- The crash occurred at 5.30am on Sunday, August 9, 2026.
- Other details
- Two gardaí from a west Dublin Garda station were instructed not to chase the car and were only qualified for routine, non-emergency driving at CBD level 1.
- Gardaí believe video footage on the phones of some of the teenagers may be key to their investigation.
- A referral does not necessarily mean a garda or gardaí have been accused of wrongdoing.
- Investigation
- Fiosrú received a referral from An Garda Síochána on the morning of August 9 and is investigating under section 208(1)(b) of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024.
24 statements extracted from the articles
- whatNine people were injured and hospitalised, with one in critical condition. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatA vehicle was travelling northbound on the southbound carriageway of the M50. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatEight male youths were in one car driving down the up-ramp at Junction 12 when it collided head-on with another car. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatThe driver of the other car, a man in his 20s, is being treated for serious injuries. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatA Toyota Yaris was stolen from the Rathmines area (irishtimes.com)
- whatEight teenagers were in the five-seater car when it crashed (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe vehicle was travelling above the 100km/h speed limit (irishtimes.com)
- whatNine people were hospitalised following the collision (irishtimes.com)
- whatOne 13-year-old teenager is in critical condition (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe stolen car had failed to stop for gardaí before going on to the M50 (irishtimes.com)
- whatTwo gardaí from a west Dublin Garda station were instructed not to chase the car (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe gardaí in the patrol car were only qualified for routine, non-emergency driving at CBD level 1 (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe driver of the second car, a man in his 20s, was hospitalised with serious injuries (irishtimes.com)
- whatCraig, an electrical apprentice, was the driver of the other car and was hit head-on (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe referral was made following a road traffic incident proximate to junction 12 Firhouse of the M50. (dublinlive.ie)
- whereThe stolen car was spotted by gardaí in several parts of south and west Dublin on Sunday morning (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe crash occurred on the M50 while driving the wrong way (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe incident happened in the early hours of Sunday morning. (dublinlive.ie)
- whenThe crash happened at 5.30am on Sunday (irishtimes.com)
- investigationA Garda watchdog investigation is underway after the collision. (dublinlive.ie)
- investigationFiosrú received a referral from An Garda Síochána on the morning of Sunday, August 9. (dublinlive.ie)
- investigationFiosrú is legally required to investigate incidents where gardaí were in contact with individuals who then died or were seriously injured (irishtimes.com)
- otherA referral does not necessarily mean a garda or gardaí have been accused of wrongdoing. (dublinlive.ie)
- otherFiosrú cannot make further comment pursuant to section 208(1)(b) of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024. (dublinlive.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 11 Aug2026M50 crash latest: Grave concerns over health of teenager (13) in critical condition
Details of the M50 crash involving a stolen Toyota Yaris with eight teenagers, the role of two gardaí in a patrol car, the condition of the injured, and the launch of a Fiosrú investigation.
victim, 20s, male, irish (judged from name)victim, 13, malesuspect, malesuspect, malesuspect, malesuspect, malesuspect, malesuspect, malesuspect, malesuspect, male - 10 Aug2026Garda watchdog investigating M50 wrong way crash after nine rushed to hospital
Adds Fiosrú investigation details: referral received from An Garda Síochána on the morning of 9 August 2026, on-call investigators attended the scene, investigation ongoing under section 208(1)(b) of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024. Confirms the driver of the other car is a man in his 20s with serious injuries and that the incident was proximate to junction 12 Firhouse.
victim, 20s, malesuspect, male