(Chancey Gallant/Contributed Photo)

The low rumble of engines grew into a rolling thunder as dozens of motorcyclists revved their bikes Friday night on South Broadway in Tyler, sending a tribute into the night sky for one of their own — Dakota Hunter, a rider gone too soon.

“Everyone lost the best man in their lives,” said Mixie Gallant, Hunter’s sister. “He was a jokester, but he was one of the most caring people ever.”

Hunter, 21, was killed in a crash in the early evening on March 1 in the 7900 block of South Broadway Avenue, just north of Cumberland Road. The Tyler Police Department reported that an SUV, waiting to make a left turn into a shopping center, pulled in front of two southbound motorcycles, leading to the collision. The SUV driver and the other motorcyclist were taken to the hospital for non-threatening injuries. The crash remains under investigation.

Mixie had just returned home from grocery shopping in Longview when a family member delivered the devastating news. At first, she was confused, thinking they were referring to her brother’s dog, also named Dakota.

“Then she says ‘He was killed on his motorcycle,’” Mixie recalled. “And that’s when it hit me. We’re not talking about a dog; we’re talking about my big brother.”

With the news sinking in, Mixie’s next task was to break it to their mother.

“The look on her face… it was so devastating,” Mixie said. “It’s just something you don’t ever want to tell a mother… that her child died.”

Mixie and her mother drove from Longview to the hospital in Tyler, but by the time they arrived, Hunter’s body had already been taken for autopsy. “No one could tell us anything,” Mixie said. “We had to look through news articles to figure out what happened. I had multiple people messaging me, saying they were witnesses.”

A light ceremony was held Friday night in the parking lot of Slim Chickens, located at 7925 S. Broadway Avenue, the site closest to where the fatal crash occurred. Members of the biker community came out not only to honor Hunter but also to support his family and friends.

“Everyone keeps asking me how I could still be OK with bikes when it killed my son,” said his mother, Chancey Gallant. “But it wasn’t the bike that killed my son. It was a… driver that killed my son.”

Being on the road with his Kawasaki Ninja was where Hunter felt the most at peace. “He loved that thing,” Chancey said. “He was happy on his bike… he gave me heart attacks on that bike but… he loved it.”

Mixie recalled that Hunter had a unique way of signaling his family. “When he would rev the bike three times, that was him saying ‘I love you,’” she said. “If he couldn’t tell us right then and there, he’d be behind us and rev it: 1-2-3.”

Hunter is survived by his wife, Olivia, and two young children who are 2 and 1 years old.

In the wake of Dakota’s death, Mixie set up a GoFundMe page to help cover the costs of the funeral and memorial — something she knew would be crucial to support the family during such a difficult time.

“I told myself to have one day to hash out your feelings,” she said. “Just one day to cry like no other… and that’s what I did.” After allowing herself that space to grieve, Mixie focused on honoring her brother’s memory. She also organized the Light Ceremony as a way for family, friends, and the community to come together, celebrate Dakota’s life, and offer their support.

Ryan Pounds, who had known Hunter as a fellow rider, came from Longview to honor him. “He was a great guy, carefree,” Pounds said. “He was young but had such a positive outlook on life. He was a genuinely nice guy… and had his whole life ahead of him.”

Pounds, who has been riding for over a decade, said he often sees younger riders being careless and impulsive, but not Hunter. “When you were talking to him, he was paying attention, he was taking it seriously,” Pounds said. “He took the hobby seriously. He was a really skilled rider.”

The motorcycle community is tight-knit, and tragedy hits hard. Riders often face unfair assumptions about being at fault in crashes, which only adds to the pain.

“There’s this assumption that motorcyclists are always at fault,” Pounds said. “It’s disappointing when you hear about something like that happening to somebody that you care about. Most of the time, we’re not to blame. It’s just sad that it has to be this way, but all we can really do is honor his memory and raise awareness about motorcyclists, especially as more riders hit the roads in warmer weather.”

According to the Texas Department of Transportation, nearly 600 motorcyclists were killed in crashes in Texas last year, and over 2,400 riders sustained serious injuries. Road safety is a shared responsibility for everyone — whether on two wheels, four, or more — by staying alert and paying attention.

“Staying off your phone is the No. 1 thing,” Pounds said. “That’s what I see almost constantly.”

TxDOT’s statewide “Share the Road: Look Twice for Motorcycles” campaign emphasizes the importance of vigilance, particularly at intersections where motorcycle collisions frequently happen.

To help prevent crashes:

• Check yourself. Always remind yourself to keep an eye out for motorcycles nearby.
• Look twice. Use turn signals and check blind spots before changing lanes.
• Turning left? Avoid turning in front of an oncoming motorcycle. Let them pass first and always use your turn signal.
• Pay special attention at intersections. More than a third of all motorcycle fatalities happen at roadway intersections.
• Make some space. Keep a safe following distance. Motorcyclists can reduce their speed without activating their brake light.
• Slow down. Obey posted speed limits and drive according to conditions.
• Stay alert. Give driving your full attention. Even a momentary distraction can have deadly consequences.

“With warmer weather, there are going to be more bikers on the road,” Mixie said. “It’s beautiful outside… just please watch your surroundings.”