A teenager has been arrested and charged over an alleged hit and run after promising young SUNY Potsdam basketball player Emily Smith was struck and killed by a vehicle near campus on Saturday morning.
According to North Country Now, 18-year-old Jakob D. Krise of Brasher Falls, N.Y., has been charged with leaving the scene of a motor vehicle crash resulting in death, zero tolerance driving while intoxicated and driving across hazard markings.
Smith was struck at 3:37am, according to police, and was transported to a nearby hospital where she was pronounced dead.
Around four hours later, officers located the black Cadillac Escalade on Route 11, which reportedly had front-end damage and Krise was then arrested. He is scheduled to appear in Potsdam Town Court court on May 20.
Tributes have since poured in for Smith, a transfer student who was captain of the SUNY women’s basketball team.
‘In her first year here at SUNY Potsdam, she was already excelling academically, being named to the Dean’s List, and had built a tight knit circle of friends and mentors,’ the school said in a statement.
SUNY Potsdam basketball player Emily Smith, 20, died in the early hours of Saturday morning
‘Emily was with teammates and friends at the time of the incident, and many more friends, classmates, coaches and supporters joined together with her family while she was at the hospital.
‘We mourn Emily’s loss as one campus community, and hold her family, friends, and loved ones in our hearts at this difficult time.’
Her coach, Brittany Cohen, added: ‘I am heartbroken. She was an extraordinary young woman, beloved by her teammates, coaches and everyone she met.’
The school shared pictures of their gynasium, which has turned into a memorial space in the aftermath of Smith’s tragic death.
They said they will also make plans to commemorate Smith at a later date. They have also made drop-in counseling sessions available for students.
Police, meanwhile, have said that the investigation remains active and that additional charges may be pending.
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