Crash causes traffic headaches on I-25

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - Another headache for Albuquerque drivers.

A motorcycle accident forced I-25 to be closed for four hours Saturday afternoon.

Investigators say around 3:30 p.m. a 52-year-old motorcyclist crashed into a truck parked for repairs. The motorcyclist, Fred Drake, died at the scene. No one else was severely injured.

"It was on the shoulder, so it looks like that motorcycle may have had to swerve or for some reason go on that inside shoulder and that did in fact impact that help-vehicle," said Officer Nelson Sanchez of the Albuquerque Police Department.

Police were trying to put the pieces of the scene together for hours. They had questions about who the motorcyclist was, what happened during the crash and if he was wearing a helmet.
 
It appeared that he wasn't wearing a helmet.

"Traffic's going to be backed up. We're taking all southbound traffic off the freeway onto Jefferson," said Sanchez.

APD investigators say they take their time investigating fatal accidents and do not want to lose any evidence.

"When the motorcycle slid down the freeway it looks like another vehicle hit the motorcycle to push it further down the freeway. So, we have several vehicles involved in this accident," said Sanchez.

Officers expected a lengthy scene, making Albuquerque drivers frustrated in traffic.

Alcohol does not appear to be a factor in the crash, but speeding does.