Forensic investigators remain at the scene of a crash on the N53 which left two women in a critical condition.
The single vehicle collision occurred on the main Castleblayney to Dundalk road last night at Rassan.
The women, aged 23 and 21 were backseat passengers and taken to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital after the car they were travelling in collided with a tree.
The driver and front seat passenger, two men in their late teens, were uninjured.
Local diversions remain in place and it's expected that the road will remain closed for a number of hours.
Gardai are appealing for anyone with information or dash cam footage from the road between 8pm and 9pm to contact them.