Mr Uttley was a senior executive at Shell Oil and lived in the Napier suburb of Hospital Hill.
He was interviewed by Radio New Zealand during the Napier Siege, saying he enjoyed having his three daughters live close by.
Police said it appeared the tragic death of the couple started when surprised on the brow of a small hill by an approaching vehicle, north of Te Pohue on the Napier to Taupo Rd shortly before noon.
Taking evasive action their car's tyres went onto the grass verge and they lost control, crossing the centre line and colliding with a logging truck that pushed their car off the road and into a steep paddock.
They died at the scene.
Eyewitness accounts resulted in police stopping a third vehicle travelling towards Taupo.
"What was a beautiful sunny day has ended in absolute tragedy for all concerned," police senior sergeant Greg Brown said.
"Not only will the family now be dealing with the grief of losing a mother, father, nana and grandad in the same crash, but the truck driver and those who witnessed this are severely traumatised and will sadly remember this for a long time to come."
He said it was too early to say if charges would be laid against the driver of the vehicle travelling to Taupo.
"It is ironic that during the national campaign on distraction this may have been a cause, but it is a very timely reminder to us all. Driving needs your full attention all of the time."
A funeral service will be held in the Napier War Memorial Conference Centre, Marine Parade on Tuesday.
