A 22-year-old Ka'ū man died yesterday of injuries sustained in a crash involving a car, a large truck and a bull.

The accident was reported at 5:27 a.m. on Route 11, two-tenths of a mile north of the 57-mile marker in the Hīlea area of the Ka'ū District.

Police identified the victim as James P.K. Akau of the Ocean View community.

Police said Akau was traveling north on Route 11 in a 2006 Kia four-door sedan when he hit a bull on the roadway. His vehicle then sideswiped a 1997 Peterbuilt tractor-trailer traveling south and overturned.

Two passengers in the Kia, a 40-year-old woman and her 9-year-old daughter, were taken to Ka'ū Hospital by fire rescue personnel. They both had been wearing their seat belts.

The 9-year-old was treated and released and her mother was transferred to Kona Community Hospital for further treatment.

It was determined that Akau was not wearing his seat belt.

The driver of the Peterbuilt, a 41-year-old Ninole man, was not injured. He was also wearing his seat belt.

The highway was closed for several hours while police documented the scene.

Police ask that anyone with information about this crash call Officer Thomas Koyanagi at 326-4646, extension 229.

It was the 10th traffic fatality on the Big Island this year, compared with five at this time last year.