Injured police motorcyclist needs blood donations

Despite a slight improvement in his health, the 30-year-old police officer who crashed his motorcycle while escorting President Bush on Tuesday remained in critical condition yesterday and in need of blood.

To help Honolulu police officer Steve Favela needs O-positive blood. Here is where to donate: » A bloodmobile drive will be held today at the Kalihi-Waena Elementary School on Gulick Avenue from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. » The Hawaii Blood Bank's branch at 2043 Dillingham Blvd. is holding a special drive tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Relatives of officer Steve Favela held a news conference yesterday outside of the Queen's Medical Center to thank people who have been supporting the eight-year veteran of the Honolulu Police Department and to ask for more blood donations.

"On behalf of Steve and I, it has been a really rough time, but we are very thankful for all the support that we are getting. It's tremendous," said Favela's wife, Barbara. "What we really need right now is to call out to everybody to come donate some blood. That would be really appreciated."

Favela, who has a 5-year-old daughter and three young sons, including one who is 3 months old, was among three officers who crashed their motorcycles Tuesday morning in the presidential motorcade at Hickam Air Force Base. The other two officers suffered injuries and were treated and released from Queen's.

But Favela sustained a broken pelvis, a severed artery in his right leg and multiple internal injuries, family friends have said.

They said Favela underwent surgery Tuesday night to repair the artery but that he was still bleeding.

"At this time, Steve is still in need of your support in the form of blood donation," said the officer's sister-in-law, Bobbie Favela.

Honolulu police Capt. Frank Fujii said an investigation into the accident is ongoing.

He said Favela "improved a little" but remained in critical condition because he lost a lot of blood.

Fujii said Favela received a hospital visit from Mayor Mufi Hannemann and that a U.S. Secret Service agent is in constant contact with the president's office regarding the officer's condition.

"He's holding his own. He's a strong young man, and he's got good reasons to want to live: a beautiful wife and four lovely kids," Fujii said, adding that the Blood Bank of Hawaii is "in dire need of some O-positive blood," which is Favela's blood type.