A 44-year-old California man was critically injured yesterday in a collision between a car and a moped on Pali Highway.

Police said a red 2004 Mazda sedan was traveling toward Honolulu about 4:30 p.m. when it lost control on a wet roadway six-tenths of a mile north of Waokanaka Street in Nu'uanu.

The car slid from the left lane to the right and hit the moped, which was traveling in the right shoulder. The moped was forced into the right embankment and the California man was thrown from the moped, police said.

The man was taken to The Queen's Medical Center in critical condition, police said. He was not wearing a helmet.

The car's driver, a 24-year-old Palolo man, was not hurt, police said. Heavy rain apparently was a factor, but not alcohol, police said.

Police closed all Honolulu-bound lanes of Pali Highway for several hours.

HELP SOUGHT IN ATM THEFTS, HEIST

Honolulu CrimeStoppers yesterday asked for the public's help in finding people involved in recent thefts and a robbery.

In the first case, a man made 27 transactions — using different ATM cards — at a bank's automated teller machine at 651 S. King St. between Oct. 8 and Oct. 29. The man was photographed by the ATM's camera.

Through an investigation with Washington Mutual Bank in New York, it was determined that someone using personal information of all the victims had changed the cards' PIN numbers via the telephone. Most of the victims still had their cards in their possession. The man has been using the cards in Hawai'i, Las Vegas and New York, police said.

In the second case, a man with a knife robbed a convenience store in Nanakuli on Sunday.

At about 6:50 a.m., police said, the robber entered Papa Pantry in the Mahalo Gas Station at 87-1942 Farrington Highway. He brandished a knife and demanded money. After receiving money, he ran off toward Wai'anae.

He was described as in his 20s, 5 feet 10 and 170 pounds. He had a mustache and goatee. He was wearing a yellow hooded sweatshirt and a blue baseball cap.

Anyone with information about either case is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 955-8300, or *CRIME on a cell phone. Free calls are provided by AT&T, Nextel Hawaii, T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless Hawaii.

BLOOD DONORS GET ICE CREAM TREAT

People who donate blood Monday to the Blood Bank of Hawaii will receive a free pint of Baskin-Robbins ice cream, the Blood Bank announced.

The "Give A Pint, Get A Pint" promotion is held during the holiday season, when demand for blood is traditionally high and donor turnout low, said Robyn Yim, Blood Bank president and medical director.

"Keeping the blood supply at a safe level during the holidays is quite challenging because schools are out, people are busy with family gatherings and many people go on vacation," Yim said. "We hope this promotion will heighten awareness of the need for blood and inspire people to help meet the increasing demand for blood."

Blood donors on Monday will receive a coupon that may be redeemed for a pint of ice cream at Baskin-Robbins Hawaii stores.

WINDSHIELD CRACK ABORTS ISLE FLIGHT

A United Airlines flight headed to Kaua'i on Christmas Day had to return to Los Angeles when the pilot reported a crack in the windshield 45 minutes after takeoff.

United spokeswoman Megan McCarthy says the 140 passengers on board took another United flight and arrived on Kaua'i nearly five hours late, at about 10:30 p.m. on Tuesday.

McCarthy says it's unclear what caused the crack. It didn't affect air pressure in the cabin of the Boeing 757.

Make a difference. Donate to The Advertiser Christmas Fund.