SANTA NELLA — A 68-year-old San Jose man was arrested early Tuesday morning, accused of causing a wrong-way DUI crash on Highway 152 that killed two people, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The names of the victims haven't been released by the coroner's office, pending notification of their families.

The crash was reported at 1:07 a.m. in the eastbound lanes of Highway 152, west of Highway 33.

According to the CHP, Ali Farsad was driving a 2002 Ford Explorer west in the eastbound left lane of the highway.

Meanwhile, Manual Herrera, 23, of San Jose was driving a 1997 Ford F-150 in the eastbound left lane of Highway 152, traveling in the correct direction. He had three passengers.

The Explorer and the F-150 collided head-on. Farsad's Explorer came to rest in the eastbound lanes of Highway 152, and Herrera's F-150 ended up in the median.

The right front passenger in Herrera's vehicle, a 30-year-old woman, was pronounced dead at the scene. One of the passengers in the back seat of Herrera's vehicle, also a woman, was flown to Doctors Medical Center in Modesto and later pronounced dead, according to officer Matt Pinheiro.

The age of the second victim was not released by the CHP.

The third passenger in Herrera's vehicle, 23-year-old Maria Can, was flown to Memorial Medical Center with major injuries.

Farsad suffered minor cuts, and Herrera suffered a cut to his forehead as well as pain in his right arm and hand.

A CHP investigation determined Farsad was driving under the influence. He was arrested on suspicion of DUI and vehicular manslaughter, Pinheiro said.

The affected lanes of Highway 152 were open to traffic by 3 a.m.

City Editor Victor A. Patton can be reached at (209) 385-2431 or vpatton@mercedsunstar.com.