A local man was killed late Sunday after the motorcycle he was operating slammed into back of an 18-wheeler along Interstate 35 in Kyle.
Edward Ortiz, Jr., 41, of Kyle, has been identified as the victim in the wreck, according to a city of Kyle press release. The incident is the first traffic fatality on I-35 in Kyle in 2019.
Authorities were dispatched around 10:17 p.m. April 7 for a motorcycle accident that happened along southbound I-35 near mile marker 217 in the Kyle area, said Kyle Police Lt. Andre Marmolejo in a statement.
According to a preliminary crash investigation, the motorcycle operator, later identified as Ortiz, was traveling at a high rate of speed when he hit an 18-wheeler and then became entangled under the vehicle.
The truck driver pulled over roughly 200-feet from where the collision occurred, authorities said.
Ortiz was pronounced dead at the scene by Hays County Pct. 2 Justice of the Peace Beth Smith, who also ordered an autopsy. Next of kin has been notified.
Authorities closed all lanes of southbound I-35 for roughly 100 minutes to investigate the wreck.
Kyle Police is investigating the incident as some details about the wreck are still unknown. Anyone who might have information regarding the incident should contact Kyle Police at 512.286.3232.
