A pickup truck driver was killed when he rear-ended a semitrailer truck that was turning off a highway west of the Twin Cities, authorities said.

The crash occurred shortly before 5 p.m. Wednesday on Hwy. 7, about 6 miles east of Hutchinson, according to the State Patrol.

Killed was Ryan M. Sturges, 23, of Glencoe, Minn. Sturges was a stock car racer and had just competed Saturday night at nearby Arlington Raceway.

The semi was heading east and slowing to turn left into a vehicle-salvage business, when Sturges struck the big rig from behind, wedging his full-size pickup under the back of the trailer, the patrol said.

The driver of the semi, Jerry L. Ball, of Lake Crystal, Minn., was not hurt.

Paul Walsh