Police investigators take measurements at the scene of this morning’s motorcycle crash near the Kailua-side mouth of the Pali Tunnels. The rider was thrown from his bike, hit a “Lights?” sign, and fell into a ravine. Richard Ambo • The Honolulu Advertiser

The man was thrown into the "Lights?" sign outside of the second tunnel, which broke his fall, said Olomana fire Capt. Richard Bulacan, whose company found the injured man at 4:30 a.m., 17 minutes after arriving at the scene. "The sign was ripped out last week and was just replaced," Bulacan said. "The new sign saved his butt."

The sign is now bent at a 90-degree angle, Bulacan said.

Olomana firefighters hiked down from the roadway to attend to the injured man. The man was conscious and appeared to have fractured his right collarbone and elbow. Fire rescue specialists rappelled down and rescued the man, who was taken to The Queen's Medical Center.

Speed appears to be a factor in the crash, said police investigator Sgt. William Watkins.

The crash occurred between the second Kailua-bound tunnel and the hairpin turn at 4:01 a.m. The motorcycle swerved on a bend and hit a concrete barrier, police said. The motorcyclist was not wearing a helmet.

Firefighters searched for a possible passenger but found no one, Bulacan said. The Olomana engine company was assisted by Rescue I and a ladder company from Kailua, said Fire Department spokesman Capt. Emmit Kane.