Gardaí investigating the road traffic collision that has left four young women dead have spoken to a number of witnesses who reported seeing the women’s car veering into the path of the van it collided with.

The four women who died have been named as Ashling Middleton (19), an Arts student at NUI Maynooth from Coneybro, Athy, Co Kildare; Chermaine Carroll (20), from Dolmen Heights, Pollerton, Co Carlow, who has studied at Carlow Institute of Further Education; Gemma Nolan (19), from Idrone Park, Tullow Road, Co Carlow; and Niamh Doyle (19), from Mount Leinster Park, Co Carlow.

The VW Polo, being driven by a fifth woman who survived but remains in hospital, was seen “shuddering” as it went over the broken white line on to the wrong side of the road.

Gardaí believe the car then turned and was hit side on, on the passenger’s side, by an oncoming VW Transporter van.

The three survivors and the bodies of the dead women were all taken to Naas General Hospital.

The driver of that vehicle and his passenger, both Polish nationals living and working in Ireland, were taken from the scene near Burtown, Co Kildare, to Naas General Hospital.

The van’s passenger is still undergoing medical treatment. However, the driver of the van, who lives in Carlow, has been discharged.

Garda sources say he is very traumatised but will be spoken to at length. The investigating team are hopeful his account will help determine the cause of the crash.

There were a number of other cars behind both vehicles and some of their occupants have said the women’s car seemed to veer into the path of the van.

However, gardaí have ruled out dangerous driving as the cause of the collision.

They also do not believe the incident resulted from any overtaking manoeuvre which may have gone wrong.

They are trying to determine if the car carrying the five friends, who all met in secondary school at St Leo’s College, Co Carlow, suffered a blowout puncture just before the moment of impact.

The collision occurred at 9.45pm at Burtown, Co Kildare, approximately 5km from junction 3 (M9) going towards Athy on the N78.

The stretch of road where the collision occurred is wide, with room for vehicles to pass each other.

There is also a significant hard shoulder on both sides of the road, which has clear road markings.

Garda crash scene investigators were examining the wreckage strewn on the road throughout much of yesterday.

Local councillor Aoife Breslin (Lab), who passed the site of the crash last night, told The Irish Times it was “horrific”.

She said gardaí were at the scene diverting traffic and emergency services were carrying out their work.

“It is horrific for the whole community and for the parents and friends of those involved,” she said.

She described the link road as a fairly busy one, which connects Athy to the motorway. She said it was of good quality and wide.

“I suppose in days to come, the investigations will take place and people will make an analysis of what happened at that stage,” she said.

“But today is the day for the families that have been so tragically hurt and who have lost somebody so dear to them.”

‘Devastating impact on community’

The president of IT Carlow Dr Patricia Mulcahy has expressed her sadness at the incident: “This is having a devastating impact on the whole community of Carlow, including ourselves in the Institute. Our thoughts and prayers are with all the families and friends affected by this tragedy.”

Dr Mulcahy also wished for the speedy recovery of the driver who was injured in the crash, who is a student of the college.

Maynooth University have released a statement expressing their shock at the death of Ashling Middleton, who was in her second year of English and Anthropology at the college.

“Our thoughts are with the families and friends of the four young women so suddenly and sadly taken from us. We are mindful also of the three people injured in the accident who remain in hospital, and we hope for their full recovery.”

Maynooth University is providing support and counselling services to all its students and staff.