DPS: 2 people dead after wrong-way crash at the Mini-Stack

Both victims were men in separate vehicles. A third vehicle was also hit by one of the vehicles. That driver was taken to the hospital with minor injuries, DPS said.

Southbound lanes of State Route 51 were closed for several hours at McDowell Road, because of the crash, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.

According to DPS, around 7:45 p.m., troopers received reports of a driver in a red sedan heading west in the eastbound lanes of the I-10 from Sky Harbor Airport.

"Our troopers arrived in the area about three minutes later approximately, said DPS Trooper Kameron Lee. "It happens quickly you know people are thinking they're driving the correct direction and they're driving at freeway speed and they can travel a long distance in a short amount of time."

The driver then continued to go the wrong way on the southbound SR 51 HOV transition ramp, where he slammed head-on into a white sedan.

That driver was on the HOV ramp from the State Route 51 heading onto the I-10. The third vehicle was also heading south when it was hit.

A witness reported to DPS that they saw the red sedan swerving in and out before crashing, according to Phoenix Fire Capt. Rob McDade.

"We've seen too many of these in the past few years," said McDade. "This is just another tragic scene, it's just horrible when two cars at that high rate of speed, it's just a tragic scene out here."

It is too early in the investigation to know if impairment was a factor, said McDade.