Two deadly crashes close major routes

WEST SIDE — Two fatal crashes early Thursday closed major West Side routes, complicating the morning commute for hours.

Eastbound Interstate 40 was closed at Sixth Street for a fatal crash involving a motorcycle, according to officer Tanner Tixier, an Albuquerque Police Department spokesman.

“The motorcycle rider was traveling in excess of 90 mph and was unable navigate the slight bend in the road on I-40 eastbound at 4th Street,” he said.

Tixier said alcohol was not a factor and no other vehicles were involved. Police had not identified the motorcyclist as of Friday.

Police also investigated a fatal crash at Coors and Iliff NW that involved a pedestrian being hit by a truck while crossing the road outside a crosswalk, Tixier said.

That person’s name also had not been released.

ADOLPHE PIERRE-LOUIS/JOURNAL Albuquerque Police Traffic Unit officers investigate a fatal pedestrian accident on northbound Coors NW, near Iliff, on Thursday. The incident was one of two fatal crashes that took place that morning.