Even though they were not dating, or even considered boyfriend and girlfriend by their many friends, Aaron Porter, 21, and Alex Marie Finney, 17, seemed like soul mates; they had known each other for years, and were often inseparable friends.

The black and white sheet of a California Highway Patrol faxed report described them as something quite different, a pair of travelers along the sometimes treacherous Silverado Trail who had apparently made a fatal mistake.

The young Calistoga couple died together beside the Trail just south of Bale Lane in St. Helena, victims in an accident that also, some say ironically, involved one of Finney’s employers, Ron Goldin, 51, one of the owners of barVino, where Finney was employed.

Goldin, also from Calistoga, complained of back and neck pain, but otherwise escaped injury.

Crossed the line

Goldin, according to the CHP report, was southbound in a Chevrolet pickup on the Trail shortly after 9 p.m. Monday night. He began slowing down to make a left turn into a private driveway near Bale Lane.

Porter was also southbound on the Trail in his Ford pickup. When Porter approached the back of Goldin’s vehicle, he steered his truck across the double-yellow lines and into the northbound lane.

Goldin started to make his left turn just as Porter’s pickup was passing. Goldin’s pickup, a loaner from the company servicing his Mercedes, sideswiped the left front of Porter’s vehicle, causing it to careen toward the side of the Trail where it slammed into a power pole and rolled, the CHP said.

Neither of the two young occupants were wearing a seat belt.

Goldin, who was wearing a seat belt, complained of pain to his neck, shoulders and back, but was not taken by ambulance to the hospital, according to the CHP. The impact of the collision pushed Goldin’s vehicle back into the southbound side of the Trail.

Later, Goldin allegedly told a friend that the accident happened so fast that he didn’t even realize Porter’s vehicle was passing until the vehicles collided.

CHP investigators do not believe alcohol played a part in the accident.

Finney, born in Rhode Island, moved to Calistoga about 12 years ago, her uncle Richard Lucov said.

Alex’s mother, Susan Finney, lives in and owns a business in Calistoga.

“This is such a senseless tragedy,” said Jill Hoff, a friend of Finney’s mother, who spoke on her behalf. “Alex’s mom has described her daughter as light in her life, she was strong and vivacious, and had dreamed of owning her own sprint race car and hoped one day to have a female racing team.”

‘Too young to die’

One of Finney’s former employers, Clive Richardson, co-owner of the Calistoga Roastery, echoed Hoff’s expression of sadness, and Alex’s mom’s sense of light.

“Alex was a wonderful young woman,” he said early Tuesday. “She was filled with a zest for life, a wonderful, bright spark of life. Alex was popular with many friends,” said co-owner Clive Richardson. “What a lovely young lady she was. It’s just such a shock to think she is gone ... far too young to die.”

Later in the day, just south of Bale Lane, Andrea Leeds, of St. Helena, and two friends — Jill Latno, of Napa, and another, from Middletown, who asked not to be identified — were using water to coax the stubborn earth hiding beneath the soft blanket of grass to yield enough space for them to plant some living flowers. Their hands were covered in mud.

“You could never, ever, find a better, more perfect gentleman than Aaron Porter,” Leeds said. “Even though I live in St. Helena, I’ve known Aaron for so long I can’t recall ever not knowing him. He was the most perfect person and friend you could ever ask for.”

Attempts to contact Porter’s family were unsuccessful.

Porter’s father, Mark Porter, owns Porter Auto Repair in Calistoga. Telephone calls to the business were answered by a machine stating the business was temporarily closed.

Porter’s mother lives out of state. Kurt Laracou, owner of Bear Flag Realty in Calistoga, has known the young Porter for a long time.

“I was once a Cub Scout den leader and Aaron was in another den,” Laracou said late Tuesday. “He was a great kid then, and was a wonderful, very honorable, young man now. He had recently gotten his new apartment, which included a garage so he could work on cars, just like his dad. He wanted to be just like him.

“Alex’s mom too, has done a wonderful job as a single mother raising her daughters,” Laracou continued. “Both families have accomplished so much, and now, share a terrible, terrible loss.”

At Tueday’s Calistoga City Council meeting, Mayor Jack Gingles started the meeting off with a moment of silence honoring the young couple, and another woman from Calistoga who perished in a traffic accident early Tuesday. It had been suggested the city council cancel Monday’s meeting because of the tragedies.

Celebration of life

A celebration of Alex’s life will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 24, at the Butler Pavilion at the Napa County Fairgrounds in Calistoga, Hoff said.

“The memorial will be for both kids,” Hoff said. “They were rarely separated, and now they’ll be together forever, Alex’s mom said.”

In lieu of flowers, Alex’s family has requested that donations be made in Alex’s name at Bank of the West in Calistoga, on Lincoln Avenue. Bank Manager Norma Anchondo is in charge of the account.

Marsha Dorgan, a reporter for NVP Services, contributed to this report.

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