A man operating a motorcycle was critically injured yesterday afternoon in a crash involving a motorcycle and a motor vehicle in Mo'ili'ili.

The man, who appears to be in his 40s, was injured in an accident near the intersection of Wilder Avenue and Dole Street, said Bryan Cheplic, spokesman for the city Emergency Services Department. Paramedics received the call at 5:42 p.m.

The man was taken to a hospital in critical condition, Cheplic said.

Police closed the Wilder Avenue off-ramp from H-1 Freeway. The off-ramp was reopened at 7:06 p.m.

SUV DRIVER KILLED IN CRASH ON KAUA'I

KOLOA, Kaua'i — A Kalaheo man died Thursday night in a single-car traffic crash on Kaumuali'i Highway just west of Halfway Bridge.

Police said the man was traveling west in a Subaru SUV about 11:37 p.m. when the vehicle crashed into a tree on the side of the highway near mile marker 6 and burst into flames.

The car was fully engulfed by flames and the fire had spread to a surrounding grassy area when firefighters and rescue specialists from the Lihu'e fire station arrived. The man was in the SUV.

The death was Kaua'i's second traffic fatality this year.

FOUNDATION HONORS CANCER RESEARCHER

Dana-Lynn Koomoa, a junior researcher at the Cancer Research Center of Hawai'i, is one of 11 young scientists in the nation who were selected to receive a 2009 Young Investigator Award from the Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation.

In conjunction with the national recognition, Koomoa, a McKinley High School graduate, will receive a grant of $40,000 per year for two years from the foundation to support her research.

"Dr. Koomoa has performed outstanding work in the two years she has been working with me at the Cancer Research Center of Hawai'i," said Koomoa's mentor, Andre Bachmann. "She has been very productive and we have already been able to publish her data in papers with high scientific impact."

POLICE CITE 1,400 FOR NOT BUCKLING UP

More than 1,400 tickets for seat belt violations were issued in Honolulu during the two-week "Click It or Ticket" enforcement campaign, police said.

Officers also issued 100 citations for child-restraint violations.

To raise awareness, officials visited schools in Waimanalo to promote vehicle safety. Officials also held an event to promote "Click It or Ticket" at Ala Moana Beach Park.

The 2009 "Click It or Ticket" campaign began May 18 and was conducted through the end of May.

Hawai'i law requires all front-seat occupants and back-seat passengers under 18 years old to use seat belts.

SEWER SMOKE TESTS SET IN WAHIAWA

Crews from the city Department of Environmental Services will conduct smoke testing of the wastewater collection system in Wahiawa residential areas from June 9 to 12 and June 16 to 19.

Smoke tests are planned on Ka'ala Avenue, Club Drive, Ridge Avenue, Glen Avenue, Auwai Drive, Ipuhao Place, Kilani Avenue, Koa Street, Kellog Street, Clark Street, Thomas Street, Kolekole Drive, Valley Avenue, Crest Avenue and Clark Place.

The tests are part of the department's preventive maintenance program to prevent rainwater from entering the sewer system.