Officials identify two Oakland men who died in wrong-way collision

Two men killed in a wrong-way, head-on collision on state Highway 24 in Orinda early Sunday morning have been identified as Oakland residents, according to the Contra Costa County coroner’s office.

The crash happened around 2 a.m. on westbound Highway 24 between Fish Ranch and Wilder roads, according to the California Highway Patrol. Benigno Ramirez-Jimenez, 26, and 35-year-old Eleazar Perez-Lopez were headed east in the westbound lanes when they crashed into a westbound Toyota.

Ramirez-Jimenez was pronounced dead at the scene, while Perez-Lopez was transported to a hospital where he was later pronounced dead. There were five passengers in the Toyota, all of whom were transported to a hospital with major injuries. At least one patient had to be transported by helicopter.

Investigators believe drugs or alcohol may have been a factor in the collision. Further information about the case was not immediately available.