Family, Friends Mourning Loss of Dixon Teens

Family and friends of the two Dixon teenagers who lost their lives over the weekend in a Sutter County traffic accident are reeling at the loss of their loved ones and are attempting to come to terms with the tragedy.

Delfino Gaona, 19, and Alejandro 'Alex' Silva, 17, were killed Saturday night when the vehicle they were riding in crashed along Highway 99. A third Dixon resident, 18-year-old Justin Andrews, remains in critical condition at Sutter Roseville Medical Center according to a hospital spokeswoman. Andrews sustained a punctured lung and lacerated liver during the accident according to the California Highway Patrol in Chico.

Several hours after Dixon Patch posted the story and sent out a breaking news alert, several of the teenagers’ friends posted comments on the story.

Vince Padilla was one of Gaona’s best friends. Padilla phoned Gaona Saturday to see if he wanted to hang out, but received no answer when he called his phone.

“An hour later I get the phone call that he was in an accident,” Padilla wrote. “I truly miss you Feezy. You will always be missed boy.”

Lora Simmons wrote that Gaona’s profound love of music propelled him to share the stage with her boyfriend and perform hip-hop/rap music. Simmons wrote: “Music is what he wanted to do to the grave. He did. I think music should help his mother with the burial."

A benefit concert is in the works to do just that and anyone who wants help with this concert can contact Patrick Nagel at (916) 384-5932.

Gabriella Reyes sent an e-mail to Dixon Patch and stated that Silva, who had originally been listed in a California Highway Patrol press release as being a Vacaville resident, was in fact from Dixon.

Reyes wrote: “Alex was my neighbor, we live over by the old high school ... And he used to come over to my house a lot to hang out with my brother, when we all heard the news about Alex we were all in shock...our hearts go out to his family... May his soul rest in peace!”

At the schools that Gaona and Silva attended – including and – news of their deaths saddened and shocked everyone who knew the teens.

Maine Prairie High School Science Teacher Nancy Anderson knew both of the boys – Gaona since 7^th grade at and again at Maine Prairie High and Silva from Maine Prairie.

“Delfino was a sweet and gentle young man and always had a smile on his face,” she wrote. “He made every effort to get others to laugh at life’s troubles instead of taking everything so seriously. He was a talented artist and especially gifted at spontaneous ‘rap’ that entertained us all! Once when I caught him drawing instead of doing his Science vocabulary words, he agreed to make up a rap song to show that he actually did know their meaning! He will be missed by us all!”

Silva was best known among his family and friends as Pecas (Spanish for freckles) and for his big smile, Anderson said.

“He was well liked by all and was a respectful young man,” she wrote. “Everyone wanted to sit by him in class because he was so easy-going and fun. He worked hard in class, even though I don’t think he enjoyed the classroom setting. He much preferred socializing with friends and telling stories! We will miss him!”

Dixon High School Speech/Language Specialist Jeanne Meyers has known Silva since elementary school in Dixon.

"I was his teacher for 4^th-6^th grade at Anderson and then I continued to work with him as support teacher at CA Jacobs and at Dixon High School," she said. "I will always remember his winning smile and laughter…he will be missed by all who had the chance to know him."

Dixon High Teacher Gail Parker didn't know Gaona too well, she said, but is saddened by his loss. 

"He was in a drawing class at Dixon High School," she said. "He was amazingly talented. I think anything he would have set his mind on he could have achieved in the arts. He was just a great, naturally talented guy. What a tragic loss."

Funeral arrangements for the two teenagers have not been released. Silva's family is being serviced by in Dixon; the family of Gaona is being served by in Dixon.

The CHP in Chico is investigating the cause of the accident.

An account has been set up to assist Silva's family with funeral expenses. Anyone wishing to donate can do so by making the donation at First Northern Bank: Maria Elena Zarate #1346167.

A fund to assist Gaona's family has also been established at Anyone wishing to donate to the fund can do so at any Bank of America branch and making the donation to the Delfino Gaona Funeral Fund.

Dixon Patch has elected to not contact the families of Silva and Gaona to give them a bit of privacy and allow some time for them to grieve for their loved ones.

If you have a story or memory that you would like to share about these two young men, please comment on the story.