A Hauula woman died yesterday in a head-on collision between a minivan and a 7-ton Marine truck.

The woman, 57, was pronounced dead at the scene of the 2:20 p.m. crash at 53-729 Kamehameha Highway in Hauula.

Kamehameha Highway was closed to traffic in both directions for five hours after the crash. Police at the scene directed motorists to turn around until one lane was opened at 7:30 p.m., and full traffic flow was restored at 8:30 p.m.

The woman was the driver of the van, said Bryan Cheplic, of the city Emergency Services Department. He said two other people were treated at the scene by an ambulance crew.

A witness said the woman was an employee at the Ponds at Punaluu nursing care facility.

The two Marines in the Medium Tactical Vehicle were uninjured but were sent to Tripler Army Medical Center for evaluation, according to a release from Marine Corps Base Hawaii.

The truck was returning to the Marine Corps base in Kaneohe from the Kahuku Training Area, according to the Marine base public information office. Members of the 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, they were on a training exercise in preparation for deployment to the Middle East next year, the release said.

Police traffic investigators remained at the scene late last night. No information was available from police on how the head-on collision occurred.

The death was Oahu's third traffic death this week and the 38th traffic fatality this year. A 76-year-old Aiea woman died Sunday night when her car struck a retaining wall on Ulune Street in Aiea. A 22-year-old man died Tuesday morning when his mo-ped hit a curb and embankment on Dole Street.