Fatal crash with milk tanker recalled

Australian schoolteacher Andre Vogel (left) and student Gabriel Runge died in a collision between a van and a milk tanker near Reporoa in November

Teacher Andre Vogel, 36, from Queensland's Noosa Pengari Steiner School, and 16-year-old student Gabriel Runge died when a van Mr Vogel was driving and a milk tanker collided on State Highway 5 near Reporoa on November 28.

Six other students, and teacher Tricia Jeffree, were injured.

A police spokeswoman said it appeared the van carrying the school group had crossed the centre line and collided with the milk tanker.

At the time Noosa Pengari Steiner School principal Allen Kloeden said a team of staff members at the school was offering counselling, support and care for everyone involved.

The staff and students were in New Zealand on a hiking trip.

They had just completed the Tongariro Alpine Crossing and were on their way back to Rotorua when the crash happened.

Mr Vogel was the father of two young girls.

Reporoa woman Mary-Ellen Bell raced to the scene after hearing "an awful thud" outside her house. "The front [of the van] was gone and you could see it was just chocka full of people."

Other motorists on the busy highway were at the scene and she could see two people had died on impact.

"The driver was still in the van and they covered him with a blanket. I looked down and saw [Runge] covered too."