Four teens killed in fiery crash in rural Kane Co.

Friends and family are mourning the death of four teenagers in a fiery crash early Saturday in unincorporated Burlington Township.

The crash occurred just before 1 a.m. near the intersection of Burlington and Plato roads, Kane County Sheriff's Department spokesman Pat Gengler said.

Erick Silva, 18, of Streamwood was driving a 2003 Pontiac Grand Am southbound on Burlington Road near Plato Road when he crossed the center line and struck a 1999 Pontiac Grand Prix head on, according to initial investigations.

The impact caused the Pontiac Grand Prix to catch fire, said Gengler, who described the scene as catastrophic.

"The front ends of both vehicles were basically pushed into the passenger compartment," Gengler said.

Silva died after being flown to Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove.

The three other teens involved were pronounced dead at the scene, including the two passengers in the Grand Am, Christian Miguel Gody-Olvea, 19, and Andres Solis, 19, both of Streamwood, and the driver of the Grand Prix, Marco Leon, 19, of Elgin.

Leon's mother, Yolanda Leon, said her son was a nursing student at Elgin Community College.

"He had a really good heart," said Yolanda Leon, who is a nurse at Sherman Hospital in Elgin. "We didn't have any problems with him. He was kind with all of his friends and he was very kind to us."

Family and friends gathered at the Solis household Saturday evening to remember the 19-year-old.

Solis' 15-year-old sister Angelica said her brother had just graduated from Streamwood High School in May and had been working two jobs to save up for college.

"He didn't want my parents to work as hard," she said.

Solis had a close relationship with his three other siblings, Angelica said, and was always teasing and protecting his younger sisters.

"He always played tricks on me," she said. "In high school, he would protect me from the guys and told my sister to study."

On Friday, Solis had gone to pick up his 14-year-old sister from school even though she was supposed to be walking home. Angelica said he teased his sister for a bit before he finally gave her a ride home.

"He was really very nice," she said.

A witness told deputies that just before the crash the Grand Am passed his vehicle at high rate of speed on Burlington Road, the release said. Authorities said they believe drugs and/or alcohol were a factor in the crash but Gengler would not comment further until results from toxicology tests were returned, which can take several weeks.

Gengler said investigators are working with family members to determine why the three Streamwood teens were driving near Hampshire at the time of the accident.

Yolanda Leon said her son was heading to a friend's house after finishing his shift at Domino's Pizza in South Elgin.

Visitation for Leon begins at 3 p.m. Monday with services at 7 p.m. at Countryside Funeral Home and Crematory, 1640 S. Green Meadows Blvd., in Streamwood.

Sheriff's department detectives and the Kane County Accident Reconstruction Team are investigating the accident.

<div class="infoBox"> <h1>More Coverage</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Related documents</h2> <ul class="morePdf"> <li><a href="/pdf/burlingtonplato.pdf">Full text of sheriff's press release </a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>