Authorities have identified the Twin Cities motorist who slammed head-on into a van while trying to pass a semitrailer truck on a rainy central North Dakota highway, killing himself and a couple in the vehicle he hit.

Killed were Gerard Sturm, 54, of Maple Plain, in addition to Carl Siebert, 74, of Jamestown, N.D., and his wife, Irene Siebert, 79, the North Dakota Highway Patrol reported.

The crash happened about 6 p.m. Sunday, according to the patrol.

Sturm was driving a Ford Econoline van as he tried to pass the big rig, and the Sieberts were in a Chrysler van heading the other way, south of Fessenden, N.D., the patrol said.

The patrol said that Sturm was trying to pass the semi but couldn't see the oncoming van because of the rain.

PAUL WALSH