JASPER — A Ruthton man was killed, and two people were injured, in a head-on crash on Minnesota Highway 23 near Jasper Monday afternoon. The Minnesota State Patrol said Earl Gruis, 67, of Ruthton, died when a pickup truck crossed the center line and struck Gruis’ vehicle.

The crash was reported at 12:36 p.m. Monday. Gruis’ vehicle was southbound on Highway 23 when it was struck by a northbound pickup driven by Kevin Wheeler, 37, of Tea, South Dakota, the State Patrol said. Road conditions were wet at the time of the crash, the State Patrol said.

Gruis was killed in the crash, and Wheeler received life-threatening injuries, the State Patrol said. Wheeler was transported to Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls. A passenger in Wheeler’s truck, 32-year-old Jeremiah Williams of Monroe, S.D., was transported to the Pipestone County Medical Center with non life-threatening injuries, the State Patrol said.

The Rock County Sheriff’s Office, the Pipestone/Jasper Fire Department and Ambulance and North Memorial Ambulance all responded at the scene of the crash.