Two men fleeing from police collided into the car she was driving on State Highway 6 just south of Nelson early Sunday morning.
Police estimated the car was travelling at over 130 kilometres an hour while trying to overtake a truck when it hit the car Yanko was driving.
The two men who were on the run from Police, 25-year-old Johnathan Tairakena and 33-year-old Philip Jamie Stretch also died at the scene.
Carmen Yanko's five children have released a statement to police, voicing their devastation.
"We as Carmen's children are heartbroken and reeling from this senseless tragedy that occured."
Two police investigations are continuing, involving the Serious Crash Unit and the Independent Police Conduct Authority.