Condition of 3rd teen upgraded

MILFORD – The Milford teenager seriously injured in a single-car crash that left two of his close friends dead appears to be improving.

Gino Olsen, 16, of 262 Mason Road, was thrown from a Volkswagen Jetta he was driving when it hit a tree on Route 13 in New Boston near the Mont Vernon line April 27. Olsen’s friends Gage LaFontaine, 16, and Alex Betty, 16, were killed in the crash.

On Monday, Andrea Duggan, a spokeswoman from Boston Children’s Hospital, said Olsen’s condition has been upgraded from “critical” to “serious.” Olsen, a Milford High School sophomore, remained in serious condition Wednesday afternoon.

The investigation into the crash is ongoing, according to New Boston police.

Early this week, students and faculty at the high school continued grieving for Betty and LaFontaine, also sophomores, and hoping for Olsen to recover, said Principal Brad Craven.

“It’s painful for everybody and it’s hard dealing with the empty chairs,” said Craven.

Craven said he’s addressed the school about the tragedy and a moment of silence was observed for the boys. This is the first loss of a peer that many students have ever experienced, he said.