MEXICO CITY, Mexico — Dina, the Latin American truck maker that is almost came to Canada through a deal with Western Star, has announced the death Rafael Gomez Flores, its former chairman.

He died in Guadalajara after a long illness at the young age of 43. Gomez Flores had stepped down as Dina’s chairman and resigned from the board of directors at a Feb. 14, shareholders meeting, and was acting solely as advisor to the company.

Gomez Flores is survived by his wife, Marissa Velasco de Gomez, his daughters Marissa and Paulina Gomez Velasco, his son Rafael Gomez Velasco, and his mother, Altagracia Flores de Gomez.