Fatal motorcycle crash resulted in Tuesday's downtown traffic gridlock

A fatal motorcycle crash along Memorial Drive prompteda policeroad closure resultingin 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 platformsthat downtown traffic was also impacted as motorists were cutting through that part of the city.

Police said excessive speed was a factor.