Calgary

Fatal motorcycle crash resulted in Tuesday's downtown traffic gridlock

Calgary police said a young motorcyclist died Tuesday when he drove into a stationary semi-trailer on Memorial Drive. Police closed down the major commuter route for hours to investigate.

Memorial Drive was closed for hours Tuesday afternoon

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Police are investigating an incident that happened on Tuesday that led to the closure of Memorial Drive. (David Bell/CBC)

A fatal motorcycle crash along Memorial Drive prompted a police road closure resulting in an hours-long traffic backlog on Tuesday afternoon.

On Wednesday, Calgary Police said in a statement that a motorcyclist drove into a stationary semi-trailer in the right lane of the road. It happened on eastbound Memorial, approaching the Centre Street Bridge.

The motorcycle driver, a 20-year-old man, died at the scene as a result of the collision. The semi-truck driver was not injured.

Memorial Drive was closed for hours following the collision at about 2 p.m. Several people posted to social media platforms that downtown traffic was also impacted as motorists were cutting through that part of the city.

Police said excessive speed was a factor.