Car drove wrong way along motorway at high speed

Gardaí are following a definite line of inquiry after a car chase yesterday evening which saw a vehicle travel at high speed in the wrong direction along the motorway for a time.

Thankfully, Sgt Andrew Haran from Athlone Garda Station confirmed there were no collisions reported along the route as the situation could have had devastating consequences.

The incident first unfolded on Tuesday evening around 6pm, when a car failed to stop for officers in the Garrycastle area. They activated their lights and went in pursuit.

Shortly afterwards the vehicle made its way onto the motorway and drove eastbound in the westbound lane close to Junction 9 Athlone East.

It overtook cars dangerously, according to Sgt Andrew Haran, and swerved between other vehicles on the road which was busy with work traffic.

He said officers did not follow the car onto the motorway believing that would create a even bigger hazard with two cars travelling in the wrong direction at high speed.

It's understood the car came off the motorway a short time later.

While no arrests have been made as of yet, Sgt Haran said they are following a definite line of inquiry into the incident which could have had tragic consequences if the car had collided with another vehicle or come off the stretch.