The crash occurred shortly before 3:10pm on Thursday, 16 July 2026, near The Bush, Riverstown. The male driver and female passenger, both aged in their 70s, were pronounced dead at the scene. Their bodies were removed to Louth County Hospital where post-mortem examinations will take place.
A Garda Family Liaison Officer has been appointed to support the deceased couple's family. The Coroner has been notified.
Two occupants of the second vehicle — a male driver and female passenger, both aged in their 30s — were airlifted to Dublin with serious injuries. The man was taken to Beaumont Hospital and the woman to the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital. Both remain in critical condition.
The R173 has since reopened following a forensic collision investigation.
Gardaí are appealing for witnesses who were travelling on the R173 between Dundalk and Carlingford between 2:30pm and 3:30pm on Thursday afternoon. Road users with dash-cam or mobile phone footage are asked to make it available to investigators.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Dundalk Garda Station on (042) 938 8400, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.
Local Reaction
Sinn Féin Councillor Antoin Watters described the community as devastated: "They were a very well known and respected family in the Cooley area and it's hit the area tough. But look, as we know, Cooley's a very close-knit and a great community and the community will rally around this family now in the coming weeks and months ahead. It's just terrible and there's no other way to put it."