GROVELAND, Calif. » Authorities say five people were killed and two others injured after two cars collided head-on on a Northern California highway.

The California Highway Patrol says the fiery crash happened around 6:30 p.m. Saturday on State Route 120 in Tuolumne County after a vehicle crossed the center median.

CHP Officer Nick Norton told KOVR-TV the survivors were taken to a hospital in Modesto with serious injuries.

Norton said one of the cars is a 2012 Mercedes registered in San Jose and the other is a 2012 Nissan registered in Merced.

The collision prompted closure a portion of the highway east of Groveland in both directions.