Victim identified in fatal wrong-way driver crash on Fresno highway. Driver accused of DUI

The man killed in a Highway 180 collision involving a wrong-way driver suspected of DUI in Fresno was identified Monday.

The Fresno County Coroner’s Office said Ashok Kumar, 29, of Fresno was killed in the two-vehicle crash Saturday on Highway 180 east of Armstrong Avenue.

Kumar’s cousin Vikash Kumar, 30, who was driving, was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The driver was expected to be charged with felony vehicular manslaughter while driving under the influence of alcohol, CHP said.

Officers received reports of the wrong-way driver before the fatal collision at 12:25 a.m., CHP said.

A Honda Accord driven by the elder Kumar was traveling east in the westbound lanes of Highway 180 before a collision with a Buick Enclave going the opposite direction, CHP said.

The Honda driver was attempting to make a U-turn to correct his wrong-way travel and turned left directly into the path of the Buick, according to officers.

The Buick struck the Honda on the passenger side. The younger Kumar was pronounced dead at the scene, CHP said.

Two people in the Buick sought their own medical attention and were not transported by first responders, CHP said.