NEWMAN — Two men were killed early Monday when a van crashed into a stopped tractor‑trailer on Interstate 5 near Newman, a fatal collision that occurred as traffic slowed for an earlier Westside wreck involving a Gustine woman arrested on suspicion of DUI, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The first crash happened at about 11:50 p.m. Sunday, when 57‑year‑old Nancy Cortes Flores of Gustine was driving a 2013 Honda sedan at a high rate of speed and rear‑ended a Chevrolet Equinox on southbound I‑5 north of Stuhr Road, according to the CHP. After the impact, Flores and her passenger, 43‑year‑old Felix Antonio Ruiz, exited the Honda and walked into the center median. The damaged Honda remained in the left lane facing the wrong direction.

As motorists attempted to avoid the disabled vehicle, it was struck by multiple cars, including a Toyota Camry and a Nissan SUV. The Nissan overturned after leaving the roadway, sending five occupants to hospitals with minor injuries.

At about 12:15 a.m., a Honda Pilot swerved to avoid the Honda and entered the median, where it struck Ruiz. He suffered major injuries and was taken to a hospital. Flores was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and booked into the Stanislaus County jail.

Traffic remained backed up as officers investigated the series of collisions. At about 2:25 a.m., a second major crash occurred roughly 300 feet north of a Caltrans closure established for the earlier wrecks.

The CHP said a 19‑year‑old Los Angeles man driving a van failed to stop and slammed into the rear of a tractor‑trailer that had come to a halt in the traffic backup.

The driver and a male passenger in the right‑front seat were pronounced dead at the scene. Their names were not immediately released pending notification of family members. Neither man was wearing a seat belt, according to the CHP. The truck driver, 35‑year‑old Pardeep Marahar of Mercer Island, Washington, was not injured. Investigators have not yet determined whether alcohol or drugs were factors in the fatal crash.

Traffic on the Westside corridor was delayed for about five hours as officers worked both scenes and cleared the roadway. Both investigations remain ongoing.