Crash victims named

RECOVERY: Emergency services attempt to salvage the car from the Mohaka River, where three men died. PHOTO KAYSHA BROWNLIE

One of the Mongrel Mob members killed in a crash on the way to the gang's 50th anniversary celebrations at the weekend died on his late grandfather's birthday.

TerryShane Stone, 31, was a father of two, and died alongside two other Mongrel Mob members on Saturday after their car plunged down a bank into the Mohaka River.
They were Ronald Rigby, 53 and Nathan Isaac, 29.

A fourth man survived but has not been named. All four men were from Wairoa.
Police are investigating whether another car ran the men off the road.

The Herald has learned that Mr Stone died on his grandfather Jerry's birthday. Jerry Stone died in February this year, aged 76. The family had also been rocked by other deaths this year.

"As a family we are hurting . As a family we have mourned four times already this year and this will be the fifth. Those that died were elders with absolutely no gang affiliations," his cousin Aperira Stone said.

According to a family notice posted on the Wairoalive website Mr Stone is survived by his partner Erica and children Blayde and Kingston. The family notice described him as a loved son, moko, nephew, brother and uncle.

The relative said he was a good man.
"Pressures of living in a small society can lead you to join a gang. He did not have a broken home nor was his mother an old lady to any (gang) member," said Ms Stone.
Mr Stone had 12 siblings.

His brother Deejay posted a photograph on Facebook saying "rest eazy my brother Terry Dog".
It is understood other members of Mr Stone's family are Mongrel Mob members.