The Potsdam and Greenville communities are mourning the heartbreaking loss of Emily Mae Smith, a 20-year-old SUNY Potsdam student who tragically lost her life in a fatal hit-and-run crash during the early morning hours of May 16, 2026. Her sudden death has left family members, classmates, friends, and loved ones devastated as they struggle to process the loss of a young woman whose future was only beginning.
According to the Potsdam Police Department, officers responded to Pierrepont Avenue at approximately 3:37 a.m. after receiving reports that a pedestrian had been struck by a vehicle. Emergency personnel arrived quickly at the scene and found Emily critically injured. She was rushed to Canton Potsdam Hospital for emergency treatment, but despite efforts by medical staff, she later died from the severe injuries she sustained in the collision.
Investigators reported that the driver involved fled the scene immediately after the crash, leaving authorities searching for the suspect vehicle during the early morning hours. Through the investigation, officers identified the vehicle as an older-model black Cadillac Escalade with front-end damage. Police gathered evidence and worked alongside several law enforcement agencies in an effort to locate both the vehicle and the driver connected to the deadly collision.
At approximately 7:25 a.m., authorities located the Escalade traveling along U.S. Route 11 east of the Village of Potsdam. Police identified the driver as 18-year-old Jakob D. Krise of Brasher Falls, New York. Officials said he was taken into custody without incident. Krise has since been charged with leaving the scene of a motor vehicle crash resulting in death, zero tolerance driving while intoxicated, and driving across hazard markings.
Authorities said Krise was arraigned in Town of Pierrepont Court and later released under probation supervision. He is scheduled to appear in Potsdam Town Court on May 20, 2026, at 12 p.m. Investigators confirmed the case remains active and stated that additional charges could still be filed as the investigation continues. The Potsdam Police Department was assisted by New York State Police, SUNY Potsdam Police, the St. Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office, and other partner agencies during the investigation.
As loved ones grieve this unimaginable loss, Emily Mae Smith is being remembered for the kindness, warmth, and joy she brought to those around her. Friends and classmates continue sharing tributes and condolences in her memory while the SUNY Potsdam community mourns a life taken far too soon. Though her passing has left an immeasurable void, those who knew Emily say her memory will continue living on in the hearts of everyone she touched.
