A 70-year-old man riding a bike toward Hale'iwa today was hit from behind by a passing pickup.

The accident occurred at 6:23 a.m. near 66-124 Hale'iwa Road, in the Hale'iwa-bound lanes, according to fire officials called to assist.

The victim was taken to Wahiawa General Hospital in what ambulance officials described initially as serious condition. A hospital nursing supervisor, however, could not confirm that he was admitted or provide a condition update.

Four arrested in assault on man

Police are seeking second-degree robbery and assault charges against two men and two teenage boys who allegedly attacked a 64-year-old man in Wahiawa early yesterday.

The assault occurred at 1:20 a.m. while the man was walking to work fronting 1061 Kilani Ave., police said.

The man passed by, but then the two older suspects allegedly returned and blocked his path. One then allegedly punched the victim several times, took his backpack and left him lying on the pavement.

All four suspects allegedly fled from the scene but were later arrested.

The victim suffered a fractured jaw, loosened teeth and abrasions in the assault, police said.

Girls fail in attempt to escape facility

Three teenage girls held at the Hawai'i Youth Correctional Facility yesterday stole a state-owned car and drove away in an escape attempt foiled by corrections officers blocking the road.

Police said the girls, two of them 16 and one 17, had been taken to the facility pool with four other female inmates when, at about 4:30 p.m., they allegedly grabbed the keys to the corrections staff car.

They drove down the facility's narrow access road but were blocked by a corrections van and, in trying to maneuver around it, crashed into a building, police said.

2,973 plants seized in marijuana sweep

Big Island police officers announced Saturday that last week's three-day marijuana sweep netted 2,973 marijuana plants ranging in height from seedlings to 5 feet.

Police worked with agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration and from the Hawai'i Army National Guard counter-drug program in the ongoing "Counter-Cannabis Field Operation."

The marijuana sweep, which ended Wednesday, covered areas of North Hilo, South Hilo, Puna and South Kohala.

Suspect arrested in threat over car

A 38-year-old Waimanalo man was arrested for first-degree robbery Friday night after he allegedly threatened a male friend trying to reclaim a loaned car.

Detectives said the victim, 43, had loaned a car to the suspect, a longtime friend, and was attempting to get it back at 9:38 p.m. Friday. The suspect allegedly grabbed a baseball bat and made a move toward the victim, who fled and called police.

E-mail scams continue to thrive

Police have issued a warning about an e-mail scam originating from Nigeria in which recipients are asked to supply a name and passport number in exchange for a share in a $30 million deposit.

Big Island residents have complained about the scam to police, who said that passport numbers can be used to collect personal information, including checking and savings account numbers. A similar request, reportedly arriving by mail and e-mail, has urged people to reveal bank account numbers and other personal information.