Two teens killed in Harwinton crash

Harwinton, Conn. (WTNH) - Two teens killed Thursday night in Harwinton are being remembered Friday afternoon as a third teen lies in a hospital bed with injuries.

The three were involved in a head-on crash last night on South Road, a narrow, winding country road with no painted lines separating the north and southbound lanes.

Police identified the teens as Charles Buonocore , 18, of Harwinton, and Mellissa Andrew, 17, of Avon.

The two cars crashed just before 8:30 p.m. According to police, Buonocore was the driver of one of the cars, and Andrew was his passenger. He died at the scene, and she died while being flown to the hospital.

The other driver, identified as John Kelley , 17, of Harwinton, was flown by LifeStar helicopter to Hartford Hospital. He has since been released from the hospital.

Police are still investigating how the crash occurred, but it appears Buonocore's car, which was going south, crossed into the northbound lane and struck Kelley's car.

Lewis Mills School in Burlington, where Buonocore and Kelley attended, will be open today and grief counselors will be available for family and friends of those involved.

"He just graduated in June," said Pam Lazaroski, principal at Lewis S. Mills High School. "A nice young man. He comes from a great family here in Harwinton and I was shocked [Thursday] night to get the news."

Lewis S. Mills is a school with a tragic history of car accidents.

• In April 2008, a 15-year-old student was hit by a car on Route 8 in Torrington.
• In August 2007, a 17-year-old student was among four teens killed in a crash in Bristol.
• In July 2006, an 18-year-old graduate died in a one car crash on Route 179 in Burlington.

School officials say the list keeps going, so, unfortunately, they know what to do when a student, or recent student, dies on the road.

"The crisis team has met and we have counselors here in the building this morning if there are students who would like to avail themselves of their services," Lazaroski said.