Elgin teen killed in crash remembered as 'incredibly caring'
Hundreds of mourners gathered Monday night to say goodbye to the first victim of a fiery crash early Saturday morning in unincorporated Burlington Township that left four teenagers dead.
Marco Leon, 19, of Elgin was remembered as a kindhearted young man who never flinched at helping others.
Leon was killed just before 1 a.m. Saturday when an oncoming vehicle crossed the center line near the intersection of Burlington and Plato roads, hitting the Burlington Central High School graduate's car head-on. Leon was headed to his friend's home for a Halloween party after finishing his shift at Domino's Pizza in South Elgin.
"He was incredibly caring, just a very caring person," said Josh Summers, 21, one of dozens of high school friends and relatives who gathered outside the Countryside Funeral Home and Crematory in Streamwood Monday night. Leon was on his way to Summers' house when the accident happened. "He was funny and outgoing."
Leon, a nursing student at Elgin Community College, also left an impression on Josh Summers' mother, Sonja.
"I remember Marco being very polite," said Sonja Summers, who called the accident "a shame and senseless." "He always took the time to say hi and chat. He always smiled. He wasn't one of those friends that just comes in the backdoor and goes upstairs."
While groups of classmates and friends congregated nearby - many hugging and wiping away tears - Jon Schmitz, 22, recalled numerous examples of Leon's generosity and spirit.
"Marco was the most caring person you would ever meet," Schmitz said. "He would give you the shirt off his back even if it was freezing outside. You didn't even have to ask for it."
Initial investigations into the crash say Erick Silva, 18, of Streamwood was driving the 2003 Pontiac Grand Am that crashed head-on with Leon's 1999 Pontiac Grand Prix. The Grand Prix caught fire.
Silva died after being flown to Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove.
Leon, the sole occupant of the vehicle, and the two passengers in the Grand Am, Christian Miguel Godoy-Olvea, 19, and Andres Solis, 19, both of Streamwood, were pronounced dead at the scene.
Police have said drugs or alcohol, or a combination of both, likely played a role in the accident.
Services for two other victims will also be held at the Countryside Funeral Home and Crematory, 1640 S. Meadows Blvd., in Streamwood.
Silva's visitation starts at 3 p.m. today at the funeral home. His services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at St. Ansgar Roman Catholic Church in Hanover Park.
Visitation for Solis also begins at 3 p.m. today at the funeral home. His services are Wednesday at noon and will be held at St. Ansgar Church.
Meanwhile, visitation for Godoy-Olvea has been set for 9:30 a.m. Friday at Brust Funeral Home, 415 N. Gary Ave. in Carol Stream, followed by the funeral at 11:30 a.m. at St. Isidore Catholic Church, 427 W. Army Trail Road, Bloomingdale.
<div class="infoBox"> <h1>More Coverage</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Stories</h2> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="/story/?id=247912">School mourns loss of two students in separate tragedies <span class="date">[11/04/08]</span></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=247470">Four teens killed in fiery crash in rural Kane Co. <span class="date">[11/01/08]</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>