Communities, schools cope with third student death
BETHEL — An 8-year-old local boy died Monday night from injuries received after a car crash in Oxford in August.
Matthew Thurston passed away at the Barbara Bush Children's Hospital in Portland after spending the past two months at the facility, Fran Head, a family friend said.
Matthew was involved in a car crash with his mother, Jessica Thurston, 28, of Bethel, on Aug. 12 on Route 26 in Oxford. He was transported by helicopter to Maine Medical Center, Oxford police Chief Jonathan Tibbetts said.
Jessica Thurston was transported to Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston and later released, Tibbetts said.
Matthew was a student at Crescent Park Elementary School in Bethel. He had previously attended Meroby Elementary School in Mexico.
Crescent Park School Principal Levi Brown said Tuesday morning that counselors were on hand to assist in Thurston's third-grade classroom and the classrooms of his siblings.
Matthew's best friend, Wyatt Phielbar, Fran Head's grandson, had helped to organize a walk-a-thon in Sept ember to help offset medical costs.