TWO people were rushed to hospital today after a motorist drove the wrong way up a motorway and crashed into an oncoming car.
Gardai are investigating all of the circumstances which led to the incident, which took place at around 3pm on the eastbound side of the N25, the main highway between Cork city and East Cork.
Motorists were stuck in a massive traffic jam which went on for miles for several hours as emergency services tried to clear the collision.
A man and a woman were rushed by ambulances to Cork University Hospital, where they are tonight being treated for non-life threatening injuries.
The dual carriageway was closed for a lengthy period between the exits for Little Island and Cobh.
Eventually as the traffic stretched for several kilometres through the Jack Lynch Tunnel and out to Wilton, with traffic coming out of the city also completely disrupted.
On Cork Safety Alerts Facebook page motorists told of their horror at seeing one car travelling at speed the wrong way towards Cork city on the eastbound section of the motorway, which has a speed limit of 120km/h.
One man said: “My wife is lucky to be alive. He was coming straight towards her.”
Another motorist reported a “silver Ford Focus going the wrong way. A load of us had to swerve to avoid. I hope everyone involved is OK, scary sight”.
A woman said: “We passed them too. Cars were beeping and flashing lights but they kept going. Absolutely terrifying.”
Another worried woman said: “I just passed the accident from Carrigtwohill to Little Island. Very very bad – traffic blocked everywhere.. May God have mercy.”
Another motorist reported being stuck in traffic for 40 minutes. She counted four ambulances, three fire brigades, Garda cars and paramedics at the scene.
GARDA STATEMENT
Others were shocked by the extent of damage to the two cars involved in the accident.
Many of those commenting condemned the fact that other motorists were filming on their phones the car driving the wrong way down the motorway, stressing how dangerous it was.
In previous incidents gardai have appealed to people not to do this and if they do, not to share it on social media.
In a statement, gardai said: “Gardai and emergency services attended the scene of a road traffic collision on the N25 Eastbound near Cobh Cross, Co. Cork this afternoon, Thursday 30 January 2025.
“The collision involving two cars occurred shortly before 3:00pm.
“The drivers of both vehicles, a male and a female, were conveyed to Cork University Hospital for treatment of injuries, not believed to be life-threatening at this time.
“The road has since reopened to traffic.
“Enquiries are ongoing.”
