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Two Waikato teenagers who died when their car collided with a milk tanker met at a Christian camp and were leaders to younger children, their families say.
Michael James Bryant, 16, of Tokoroa and his passenger, Danielle Grace Coghlan, 17, of Putaruru, died instantly in the collision on the Kaimai Ranges on Tuesday night.
Police said it appeared the car had crossed the centre line before it and the empty tanker collided head-on.
It was not known whether speed or alcohol were factors.
The tanker driver was uninjured.
The teenagers had been friends since a Christian camp two years ago and it is not known why they were driving towards Tauranga when the crash occurred at 8.30pm.
It was the second double fatality involving a milk tanker on the highway in less than six weeks. On October 8, two men died when two four-wheel-drive vehicles hit an overturned milk tanker.
Tuesday's crash closed the road for 5 1/2 hours and crash analysts are continuing their investigation.
The teenagers' families said Michael and Danielle were leaders at the Christian camp in South Waikato where they met.
Danielle's father, Dean Coghlan, said his daughter would take younger children on walks and hikes and also helped at a girls' rally held in Putaruru every Thursday night.
She was a member of the local Gospel Chapel and "a really lovely pianist", Mr Coghlan said.
Danielle had just finished at Putaruru College and was to study hairdressing at Bay of Plenty Polytechnic in Tauranga next year.
The younger of two sisters, she was spending the holidays milking cows and working at a sandwich bar, her father said.
Michael worked in carpentry and a garage, and also helped his father, Tim, on the family's lifestyle block.
"He was his Dad's best mate," family spokesman Pastor Brian Hagger said. "He had an awesome sense of humour."
Mr Hagger said Michael had shown "huge leadership potential" at the Christian camp.
The crash brought the road toll for the Western Bay of Plenty to 13 this year, with five deaths since the beginning of last month.
