FREEPORT — A Gardiner man was killed in a three-vehicle accident Saturday morning on Interstate 295 in Freeport, Maine State Police said.

Raymond Bisson, 50, died when his southbound car went out of control and struck two other vehicles, according to Stephen McCausland, spokesman for the Maine Department of Public Safety.

It was the first Memorial Day weekend fatality in Maine since 2014, McCausland added.

Speed is believed to have been a factor in the crash and Bisson was not wearing a seat belt, according to state police.

There was heavier-than-usual traffic on the highway Saturday morning, but it is doubtful that played a role in the crash, McCausland said in a telephone interview Saturday evening.

The crash happened at about 9:30 a.m. at Mile 20 and created a 5-mile backup in the northbound lanes. Traffic was diverted and the northbound lanes were closed for 3½ hours as state troopers and emergency crews responded to the scene. The northbound lanes were reopened at about 1:15 p.m.

Bisson first collided with a southbound car driven by Michael Cox, 53, of Durham, who was not injured, McCausland said. After hitting Cox, Bisson crossed the median into the northbound lanes, where his vehicle was struck broadside by a third vehicle driven by David Pendred, 50, of East Haven, Connecticut. Pendred’s wife, Laura Pendred, 45, and their 10-year-old son, Michael, were also in the vehicle.

The three family members were taken to Maine Medical Center in Portland for treatment of injuries that were not life-threatening, McCausland said.

Staff Writer Beth Quimby contributed to this report.

Traffic was backed up for 5 miles on Interstate 295 on Saturday morning as police investigated a fatal crash in Freeport. One person was killed in a three-vehicle collision, police said. (Ben McCanna/Portland Press Herald)