MARQUETTE — One man was killed and two people were hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries after a fatal motor vehicle accident on U.S. 2 in Bessemer at 1:49 p.m. Thursday, according to a press release from the Gogebic County Sheriff’s Department.

The Bessemer City Fire Department extricated Rex Robert Smith, 41, of Wakefield from his vehicle using the jaws of life at the scene of the crash. Smith was transported to Aspirus Ironwood Hospital and was later pronounced dead.

Alvin Liikanen, 86,and Barbara Liikanen, 87, both of Ironwood, were transported to Aspirus Ironwood Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

According to police, Smith was eastbound on U.S. 2 near Fairview Drive when he lost control of his vehicle, spinning into the westbound lanes of U.S. 2 and colliding with the vehicle driven by Alvin Liikanen, in which Barbara Liikanen was a passenger.

Speed and reckless driving are believed to be factors in the accident at this time, the release states.

U.S. 2 in Bessemer was temporarily closed as police investigated.