Crash victim 'had the ability to light up the room'

Hutt Old Boys Marist Rugby Club paid tribute to Andre Trotter (right) on Facebook saying "Fly high Andre". Photo / Facebook

Family and friends of a young man killed in a car crash near Dunedin are remembering a "loveable rascal" who had a keen sense of humour and a cheeky grin.

Andre James Trotter died when the car he was driving rolled on to its roof on Centre Rd, Momona, near Dunedin Airport, about 9.30pm on Friday.

The 25-year-old was the only person in the car, police said, and no other vehicles were involved.

Mr Trotter's parents, John and Pauline, and his brother Ben today paid tribute to their "much-loved son and brother".

"He was a keen sportsman, some of which included hunting, fishing, kite boarding, rugby and wake boarding," they said in a statement.

"He had the ability to light up the room with his great sense of humour [and] cheeky grin and always had a continuous positive attitude.

"A wide network of friends throughout the country will thoroughly miss him. He has left a gap in many people's lives which will never be filled."

Police said Andre Trotter was formerly of Balclutha. He went to university in Dunedin and later lived in Wellington.

In the capital, he was an enthusiastic member of the Hutt Old Boys Marist Rugby Club's under-85kg Howlers team, until he left last year to travel to Thailand.

Friends have also paid tribute to the "loveable rascal" and "lads' lad", who they say will be missed.

"He managed to fit 100 years of life into his 25 and that's one thing that gives a bit of comfort -- he knew how to live life," a group of them said in a written tribute provided to NZME.

"If you talk to anyone that knew Andre, they all would have at least one crazy story involving him that you wouldn't believe if you didn't know Andre."

They described him as "a spontaneous, loveable rascal with a real zest for life" who always had time for his mates and was kind-hearted.

He was always happy and the guy they would call when they needed cheering up, they said.

"One thing that has come up a lot over the last fews days is that he was never in a bad mood."

Mr Trotter's funeral will be held at The Hideaway 201 in Winton, Southland, at 1.30pm on Thursday.

Police are investigating the cause of the crash.