A woman has died after being caught up in a high speed car chase on the M7.
The victim, who was in her late 30s, was hit by a car which was being pursued by Gardaí.
Emergency services were called shortly around 8.45pm amid reports that a car had crashed through the toll booth barrier on the M7 at Portlaoise.
A Garda squad car was in pursuit of a green Volkswagen Polo, carrying five people - aged between the ages of 13 and 33 - when it rear-ended a Citroen car at the Kildare off ramp.
In Citroen car was a woman in her late 30s and after the crash she died at the scene.
The five other people travelling in the Volkswagen have been taken to Naas and Tallaght hospitals.
Two guards have also been hospitalised.
The road is currently closed and diversions are in place.
The Garda Ombudsman Commission is investigating.