A tight-knit Hawaii Island community is dealing with a heavy loss this week. Tyler Napoleon, a 24-year-old guy from Hilo, lost his life early Tuesday morning. He died following a tragic motorcycle accident that has left everyone who knew him completely devastated.
The crash happened on South Glenwood Road in Mountain View around 12:51 a.m. Tyler was out riding his 2023 Kawasaki Ninja motorcycle through the area. The night was dark and quiet right up until the moment of impact.
According to local police, Tyler made a split-second decision to overtake several cars ahead of him. He pulled out of his lane to make the pass. Unfortunately, he did this right in a clearly marked no-passing zone.
As he accelerated down the opposite lane, he flew right up toward a blind hill. He could not see what was coming over the top of the crest. At that exact second, an oncoming passenger car was driving up the other side.
Tyler’s motorcycle smashed head-on into a 2014 Mazda sedan. The collision was incredibly violent and threw him off his bike. Emergency responders rushed to the scene after getting the call.
Paramedics hurried Tyler over to the Hilo Benioff Medical Center for emergency treatment. Medical staff worked frantically for hours to save him. Sadly, his injuries were just too severe, and he was pronounced dead at 5:49 a.m.
Officers later confirmed that Tyler was not wearing a helmet when the crash happened. Investigators believe that high speed and reckless driving were major factors in the wreck. An autopsy has been ordered to figure out his exact cause of death.
