Police name Thai woman killed in road smash

Police today released the name of a Thai woman who was among eight people killed in the horror road smash near Morrinsville on Wednesday.

She was Naphat Juiyin, 42, of Chonburi province, in Thailand.

A Frenchman, believed to be in his 60s, is the sole fatality whose name has not yet been released.

Police were today continuing to try to contact his next of kin in France.

An Indian woman who survived the crash between a tour van and a truck, Ahalya Thirumuthy, 20, remained in a critical condition in Waikato Hospital.

Ms Thirumuthy's parents -- Vellore, 50, and Suchitra, 42, and sister Urmila, 18 -- were among those who died at the scene on State Highway 2.

The others killed were Auckland van driver George Gibson, 66; and American couple Gregory James Megas, 57, and Donna Lee Megas, 45.

All the victims were travelling in the van, which was heading to Rotorua for a day trip.

The truck driver survived the crash.

- NZPA