Wrong-lane pass on blind hill ends in fatal Mountain View head-on crash

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Hawaii Island police are investigating a fatal traffic collision between a car and a motorcycle that occurred in Mountain View early Tuesday morning.

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Responding to the call at 12:51 a.m., police learned that a 2023 Kawasaki Ninja motorcycle was traveling southbound (makai) on South Glenwood Rd and was passing multiple vehicles in a ‘no-passing’ zone.

While traveling south in the northbound lane and approaching a blind hill, the motorcycle collided head-on with a 2014 Mazda four-door sedan that was traveling northbound (mauka) on South Glenwood Road.

The operator of the motorcycle, identified as 24-year-old Tyler Napoleon of Hilo, was transported to the Hilo Benioff Medical Center, where he later succumbed to his injuries.

He was pronounced deceased at 5:49 a.m. An autopsy has been ordered to determine the exact cause of death.

The operator of the four-door sedan, a 43-year-old man from Volcano, was not injured as a result of this collision.

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At this time, it is believed that speed and reckless driving are factors in this investigation.

Napoleon was not wearing a helmet.

The East Hawaii Traffic Enforcement Unit is continuing this investigation.

If anyone has additional information regarding this collision, they are asked to contact Officer Jerome Duarte at (808) 961-2339, or via email at [email protected].

Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300.

This is the 17th traffic fatality of 2026 compared to 13 this same time last year.

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