Left for dead and 'evidence tampering': Events around Tiara Wheeler's death get murky
GROTON, CONNECTICUT: New details have emerged in a devastating incident that has left the sports world in mourning. Tiara Wheeler, the 24-year-old daughter of former NBA player Tyson Wheeler, tragically lost her life in a dirt bike accident in Groton, Connecticut.
Now, police have claimed their investigation into the incident has been tampered with.
What happened to Tiara Wheeler?
The incident occurred on Monday night, August 28, 2023, when Tiara was a passenger on a dirt bike that ran a red light and collided with an Audi.
Tiara's untimely demise was the result of a harrowing collision that threw her from the dirt bike. She was pronounced dead at the scene. The news has sent shockwaves through the community, leaving her friends, family, and fans heartbroken.
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The Wheeler family, deeply affected by this tragedy, penned an emotional obituary in honor of their beloved Tiara. It described her as a vibrant soul with an infectious smile and a bubbly personality.
"Tiara's energy was contagious. She was passionate about racial and social justice issues, and always put her family first," the family wrote in her obituary.
Tiara's interests spanned a wide range, from riding horses with her grandmother to playing dress-up, singing, dancing, and cheerleading. “Television time revolved around Scooby Doo cartoons, princess movies, and of course, the Cheetah Girls,” the obit stated.
Tiara Wheeler's accident
The accident that claimed Tiara's life occurred within a group of dirt bikes and ATVs that were driving recklessly, some with their lights off, according to police reports.
Shockingly, none of the other group members provided aid to the victims and were even accused of stealing and tampering with evidence before fleeing the scene.
"What is most troubling is that someone who may have been traveling with them stopped for this crash, and rather than rendering aid to the critically injured parties, removed the dirt bike from the road," Groton Police Chief Louis J Fusaro told CT Insider.
"In addition to the wanton disregard for human life, the actions of removing the involved dirt bike from the scene has tampered with and impeded this investigation," Fusaro added.
The driver of the dirt bike, who was also involved in the crash, was flown to Yale New Haven Hospital and remains in critical condition, according to a hospital spokesperson.
Tributes pour in for Tiara Wheeler
Tyson Wheeler, a former NBA star who had a successful career that included playing for the Toronto Raptors and the Denver Nuggets, has been working as an assistant coach at Brown University since 2022.
"She's a real go-getter," Wheeler said of his daughter. "She got things done. She was so bright. So articulate. So wonderful. So smart," he added.
Tiara herself achieved academic excellence, graduating from Fairfield University with a major in public health. She served as treasurer for the Black Student Union.
She received recognition as the most promising public health graduate in her class in 2021. Her promising future had been set, with plans to join Pfizer's team in the upcoming winter.
Tiara's journey toward success began at the Orthodontic Associates of Southeastern Connecticut in 2017, where she started as an office assistant and worked her way up to become a treatment coordinator.
Her dreams of studying abroad were realized when she spent time in Florence, Italy, before the onset of the Covid pandemic. She had aspired to return to live there, a testament to her adventurous spirit and love for exploring different cultures.
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Kimberly Doughty, one of Tiara's professors at Fairfield University, fondly remembered her as a mature and highly motivated student.
Doughty said, "She just had this level of confidence and maturity that I felt was really unique for an undergraduate student, and she was really motivated, really interested in learning things and making sure she understood what we were talking about in class."
A celebration of Tiara's life is scheduled for 10:30 am on September 5 at the Garde Arts Center in New London, as mentioned in her obituary.
A repast will follow at The Garde, where friends and family will come together to remember and honor the vibrant life of Tiara Wheeler, CT Insider reported.