Kamehameha Highway was closed between Kahana Bay and Swanzy Beach Park in Ka'a'awa for more than an hour after the 6:10 a.m. accident. One contra-flow lane was opened at 7:40 a.m.

According to preliminary reports, the driver of the Kahuku-bound passenger van was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver of the truck was taken to The Queen’s Medical Center with critical injures.

The truck, which was Kane‘ohe-bound, crossed over the the center line into the path of the van, possibly after a blowout of one of its tires.

The death is Oçahu’s 33rd traffic fatality of the year compared with 36 on this date in 2003.

It is also the second fatality in as many days.

A 79-year-old woman died yesterday after a two-car accident on Farrington Highway in Waipahu, The medical examiner’s office today identified the woman as Thelma Higa.

Police said Higa’s 1999 Toyota was struck by a 1997 Dodge while attempting to turn left from onto Farrington Highway from Awamoku Street at 6:55 a.m. She and the driver of the Dodge, a 29-year-old man, were taken to Queen’s and were listed in guarded and good conditions, respectively.

The woman, however, suffered a possible heart attack at the hospital and died at 12:30 p.m.

Police said speed appears to be a factor in the Waipahu crash.