Tauranga woman who died in Waikato crash named

The accident was on State Highway 29. Photo/file

The Tauranga woman who died in a crash in Karapiro this week was Terryn Nicole Duncan.

The 24-year-old suffered horrific injuries and died at the scene on State Highway 29 on Wednesday morning, about 4km from the intersection with State Highway 1 at Karapiro.

Police released the name today and extended their deepest sympathies to Duncan's family and friends "during this difficult time".

Matamata-Piako road policing Sergeant Dean Kaio said earlier this week that it was too early to say what the cause of the 4.50am crash was, but they could confirm Duncan's vehicle had slid into the path of the oncoming, and unladen, logging truck as it rounded a sweeping left-hand bend.

Kaio said Duncan was heading towards Matamata in wet conditions when the crash occurred near the Hinuera quarry.

"It actually hosed down about half an hour before so there were quite deep puddles when we arrived. It was a 75km/h advisory corner but I couldn't tell you how fast she was going."

Kaio said making the crash even more tragic was the fact Duncan had friends travelling in a vehicle ahead of her at the time.

"They saw parts of what happened in the rear view mirror and turned around. She has lost control on the road and crossed over to the wrong side of the road and struck the oncoming truck."

The vehicle slid side-on with the driver's side taking the full impact.

"Her side, the driver's side, slid into the truck so she has taken the brunt of the sudden stop along with the car and has suffered some pretty horrific injuries and died at the scene."

He said it was a timely reminder for people to drive to the conditions especially given the dry conditions and the build-up of oil and petrol left on the road.

"We are going to get showers on dry roads and the build-up of oils and petrol on the road make it pretty treacherous ... you just put a bit of water on them and it turns into a skating rink like it did today."

There were no other people on the road at the time, just the friends and the truck driver.

"There's no witnesses or no one else to glean anything from just a truck driver who is traumatised but uninjured."

- Additional reporting Belinda Feek