Authorities have released the identities of two people killed in a fiery crash Wednesday in Ham Lake.

Richard McGill and Deanna McGill, of Stacy, Minn. and both 71, died in a two-vehicle wreck that happened around 8:15 a.m. at the intersection of Lexington Avenue and Lever Street.

A Maplewood man, identified at Jay Mottley, 33, was injured and taken to a Hennepin County Medical Center in critical condition after being extracted from his burning vehicle, authorities and witnesses said.

Dalen Johnson, a former paramedic, was driving his tanker truck on Lexington Avenue and was the first come upon the scene. He spotted the Mottley's burning SUV and used a fire extinguisher from his rig to try to put out the flames. About the time his extinguisher stopped working, police arrived and were able to keep the flames under control until the fire department arrived.

The McGills' both died at the scene, authorities said. Johnson tried to render aid to the victims and said Deanna was holding a cell phone in her hand. It appeared that she might have tried to call 911 before she died, he said.

The State Patrol sent a reconstruction team to the scene to learn how the crash happened. It is still under investigation.

The fatalities bumped the statewide total to 128 this year, and were the 11th and 12th since Friday

Tim Harlow • 612-673-7768