The three people killed in a crash near Tokoroa when their car hit a logging truck were a family of American citizens living in Hong Kong.

Police have named them as 53-year-old Warren Lee, 52-year-old Aesoon Lee and their daughter, 20-year-old Julia Lee.

Julia had been living in Massachusetts, but was due to start university in Auckland and her family had come over to settle her in before heading back home.

Her 18-year-old brother, also an American citizen living in Hong Kong, remains in a critical but stable condition in Waikato Hospital.

Julia was driving the car when it crashed.