Police-lightsTwo people were killed, a third was hurt, in a crash Tuesday morning near Atlantic in southwest Iowa’s Cass County.

The Iowa State Patrol identified those who died in the crash between a pickup and a car as 49-year-old Melissa Jones, of Walnut and 39-year-old John Maxwell, of Anita.

The driver of the pickup, 57-year-old Dennis Weihs of Marne , was transported to the Cass County Hospital by ambulance. The Patrol says a 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix driven by Jones, was traveling eastbound on Highway 83 when the car went out of control while trying to negotiate a curve. The vehicle crossed the center line of the road and was hit on the passenger side by Weihs’ 2016 Chevy Silverado pickup.

Both vehicles came to rest upright in the northeast ditch. Jones and Maxwell, who were wearing their seat belts, died at the scene.

(Reporting by Ric Hanson, KJAN, Atlantic)