Lowell woman who died in motorcycle accident remembered as someone with zest for life

By Sarah N. Mattero, Globe Correspondent

Friends of a young Lowell woman who died in a motorcycle accident Tuesday gathered for a vigil Wednesday evening to remember a life lost too soon.

Alexa Christakos, 23, was killed when the motorcycle she was riding on crashed on Route 101 in Stratham, N.H., early Tuesday morning. The driver, Michael Gazeaud, 36, of Raymond, N.H., also died. Both were pronounced dead at the scene.

“She squeezed more life in 23 years than I have in 38,” said Eric Hansen, owner of the production company, Dark Tower Entertainment, where Christakos worked. “She never wasted a minute. She wanted to experience everything.”

Hansen organized the vigil at the Hookslide Kelly’s bar in Lowell, where another company event had already been scheduled.

“It was too soon to carry on, but I also couldn’t show up and not do anything,’’ Hansen said. “I wanted to do something where people could get together, light a candle, and have a minute of quiet to say a prayer or relive a memory.”

“The turnout was good, it was a lot of her father’s side of the family and her friends,” said Nick Navin, an employee at Hookslide Kelly’s.

Hansen said Christakos was “very into motorcycles” and was also a collegiate swimmer as well as a boxer.

Hansen said that they wanted to have Christakos box the Octomom, Nadya Suleman, at one of the future Dark Tower Entertainment celebrity boxing events. “She was a remarkable and impressive young woman,” Hansen said.

Neither Christakos nor Gazeaud was wearing a helmet, said New Hampshire State Police Captain John LeLacheur. Helmets are not required under New Hampshire law for those over 18 years of age.

The accident is under investigation by New Hampshire State Police. Authorities said speed is believed to have been a factor. Police are awaiting toxicology results.