Fatal crash victims named as mum and son

The fatal crash scene in Manawatu. Photo / supplied

Police have formally identified the mother and son killed in a fiery road crash in Manawatu.

They were 51-year-old Margaret Jane Turnbull and father-of-one Trent Cole Whitburn, 20, of Levin.

The pair died in a three-vehicle crash on State Highway 1, near Sanson on Wednesday..

"The crash investigation is ongoing and there is still a lot of information to be sourced and reviewed before any conclusions can be drawn especially in relation to any potential criminal charges," acting Detective Sergeant Shelly Ross of the Manawatu CIB said.

Central House Movers, the company contracted to transport a catamaran that was travelling in front of Ms Turnbull and Mr Whitburn's Nissan car, was not involved in the crash, she said.

The company transporting the over-sized load operated in a professional manner and legally had all the appropriate permits to cover their journey, she said.

"We can confidently say at this stage in our investigation that the Big Chill truck and the Nissan vehicle have not been contributing factors to this crash."

The other vehicle involved in the crash was travelling behind the Nissan, a police spokeswoman said.

It was not yet known if that truck was a private or commercial vehicle.

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