Police have revealed the names of a brother and sister killed in a crash with a milk tanker in Shannon earlier this month.

They were Ali Sina Suleiman, also known as Ali Sina Ghulum Abbas, 20, and his 24-year-old sister Samar Suleiman, also known as Najma Ghulum Abbas.

An investigation into the crash is continuing.

A Fonterra tanker was involved in the crash, a company spokesman confirmed to the Herald.

The tanker driver was moderately injured and was being supported by the company.

“Emergency services are in attendance, and we are assisting police with their inquiries,” the spokesman said. “One of our tankers was involved in a crash with another vehicle north of Shannon this afternoon.

“There was smoke coming from the car too. Then it burst into flames. The flames were as high as the tanker.”

A farmer, who works east of Shannon, also told the Herald he saw a plume of black smoke.

Vita Molyneux is a Wellington-based journalist who covers breaking news and stories from the capital. She has been a journalist since 2018 and joined the Herald in 2021.