AN elderly motorist who realised he drove too far along a motorway caused havoc last night when he turned around and headed straight into on-coming traffic.

Wing mirrors were clipped and cars were damaged as he drove northbound along the south bound stretch of the Dublin-Waterford road.

Incredibly, no one was killed or seriously injured.

The motorist apparently got on to the motorway at Naas, Co Kildare, and headed southbound as far as Leighlin Bridge near Carlow. It was then he realised he had gone too far. But he didn't turn off the motorway. Instead he headed back along the same road -- against the traffic.

Frantic motorists sent out tweets as word spread of a motorist travelling the wrong way along the road.

It is understood the driver made contact with up to five other vehicles.

Luckily none of them were head-on collisions.

A traffic unit from Athy garda station assisted by a traffic unit from Carlow finally caught up with the motorist when they blocked off a section of the road north of Castledermot. The man was taken to Athy garda station.

"The driver knew he was on the wrong side of the motorway and was trying to get off, but he could not," said one source. "It was a genuine case of panic setting in."

Athy gardai are investigating the incident.

Irish Independent