The 6:10 a.m. collision forced police to close Kamehameha Highway in both directions. The highway was expected to remain closed to motorists until noon, police said.

Today's fatality, the 57th of the year, occurred about 16 hours after a 40-year-old Wai'anae man was killed yesterday in Palama when the Toyota Corolla he was driving apparently ran a red light and struck a city bus. His death was the ninth traffic fatality for the month of October.

Vehicular homicide Sgt. William Baldwin said today's collision involved a 2000 GMC Sierra pickup truck headed toward Kahuku that crossed the center dividing line into the path of a 1992 Nissan Maxima traveling toward Kane'ohe.

The woman driving the car was prounced dead at the scene.

There were two women in the cab of the truck and five adult passengers in the bed, Baldwin said. Two men and two women were taken by helicopter to The Queen's Medical Center, where they are listed in guarded condition, said Baldwin.

Yesterday's fatal collision occurred at the intersection of North King Street and Pua Lane at 4 p.m.

Vehicular homicide investigators said witnesses reported the car was speeding through the intersection on a red light when it struck the city bus which was turning left onto North King Street from Pua Lane. No other injuries were reported.