A senior Fargo airport official driving an SUV late at night on a runway struck and killed the operator of a small utility painting vehicle that was putting down markings, authorities said.

The collision occurred about 12:40 a.m. Monday on the primary runway of Hector International Airport, according to police. Aviation traffic was unaffected.

Contract worker Darry Arveson Jr., 48, of Glen Ullin, N.D., was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

The SUV driver was the airport's assistant director, Darren L. Anderson, said Shawn Dobberstein, Hector's executive director. Neither Anderson nor a person riding with him was hurt, Dobberstein added.

"Mr. Anderson was assisting with the coordination of the runway maintenance project," Dobberstein said in a statement. Anderson has been working for the Fargo Airport Authority since 1997.

Police said that both vehicles were traveling in the same direction when they collided. Authorities have yet to say more about the circumstances of the crash.

No citations have been issued.