SUNY Potsdam Basketball Player Killed in Hit-and-Run

Emily Mae Smith, a 20-year-old college student and basketball standout, tragically lost her life in a hit-and-run incident. The accident occurred early Saturday morning near Pierrepont Avenue in Potsdam, according to a statement from the Potsdam Police Department.

Smith, originally from Greenville, New York, was a business administration major and a transfer student at the State University of New York (SUNY) Potsdam. She had already made significant academic achievements, securing a spot on the Dean’s List in her first year, and had formed strong connections with friends and mentors, as noted by SUNY Potsdam President Dr. Suzanne Smith.

On the morning of the incident, Smith, a sophomore on the women’s basketball team, was struck by an older-model black Cadillac Escalade while walking near the campus. Authorities reported that they received the call at approximately 3:37 a.m. She was taken to Canton-Potsdam Hospital where she succumbed to her injuries.

The vehicle involved in the crash fled immediately after the incident. Later, at around 7:25 a.m., police located it on U.S. Route 11, east of Potsdam, and arrested the driver. The suspect, identified as 18-year-old Jakob D. Krise from Brasher Falls, New York, was taken into custody without resistance.

Krise faces charges including leaving the scene of a motor vehicle crash resulting in death, zero tolerance driving while intoxicated, and driving across hazard markings. He was arraigned in Town of Pierrepont Court and released under probation supervision. Police stated he is scheduled to appear in Potsdam Town Court on Wednesday, with the investigation still ongoing.

SUNY Potsdam announced that the Jerry Welsh Gymnasium will act as a memorial space for students and faculty to remember and honor Emily Smith. The university’s basketball head coach, Brittany Cohen, expressed her deep sorrow, referring to Smith as “an extraordinary young woman.” Athletic Director Mark Misiak echoed this sentiment, highlighting the tragedy of losing such a promising individual at such a young age.