Gardaí say the jeep that was involved in the three vehicle accident outside Dundalk at 4am this morning had come to their attention earlier.
However, the garda in charge of the investigation, Supt Pat Magee, has denied reports that a garda patrol car was following the jeep at the time of the accident.
The accident, involving two cars and a jeep, took place on the N1 at Dowdalshill cemetery outside the town at around 4am.
Two men, the drivers of the jeep and one of the cars, were killed in the accident.
They have been named as Eamon Curran, 40, of Woodbury Gardens, Dundalk and Kevin O'Malley, 35, of Woodlawns Mill Road, Mornington, Co Meath.
Two men and two women were injured in the crash, two of them are in a critical condition in Our Lady of Lourdes hospital in Drogheda.
