Motorcyclist in Icy Crash on I-35 Identified as Cody Smith

Early Thursday morning on February 6, traffic on the I-35 was backed up due to an accident near exit 346.

Cody Smith, a 25-year-old man from West, Texas, was riding his motorcycle heading southbound on the I-35 just north of Waco when his motorcycle hit a patch of ice. When he hit the ice, his bike retaliated and threw Smith off and into traffic.

Smith was then struck by a pickup truck. He was pronounced dead by officials at the scene.

Called to the scene were the Texas Department of Public Safety, the McLennan County Sheriff’s Office, the West Police Department, and local fire departments.

Riding a motorcycle on an icy road can be extremely dangerous. We already know how dangerous it can be when driving a car down the road and hitting a patch of ice, imagine what it is like on a motorcycle without the protection of the frame and airbags to keep you safe.

Black ice is something that is transparent on the road. The name comes because of its ability to blend in and look like the pavement when it is just clear. It is almost impossible to see until it is too late.

Wearing the proper gear when riding in colder weather is important too. When the air temperature is cold it is constantly taking heat from your body, often faster than it can produce. Wearing layers and making sure you retain heat is important if you must ride a motorcycle in the winter.

A helmet is always important safety gear to have on when riding a motorcycle. The protection to your head can mean the difference between life and death at times.

There was no indication in the report on if Smith was wearing a helmet at the time of the accident. There was also no indication in the report on if the driver of the pickup truck had sustained any injuries in the accident or if there were any pending charges.