Brenna Caisse’s family laments over death of ‘sweet’ North Andover teenager
A Massachusetts family is mourning the loss of an 18-year-old high school student who died in a car crash last week.
Theresa Sparks Wood, who identified herself as Brenna Caisse’s[1] grandmother on Facebook[2], said she was still processing everything since hearing that her granddaughter was killed in a car crash in Lawrence Thursday.
“As I sit here this morning sipping my coffee, I am crying thinking of you,” Wood wrote Saturday. “You were such a sweet angel and will always have a place in Papa Wood’s and my heart!”
The fatal two-car crash[4] happened at 9:17 p.m. on Nov.
9, on the northbound side of Interstate 495, and involved a 2022 RAM pickup truck hauling a camper and a 2005 GMC Envoy, Massachusetts State Police said.
The truck was being driven by a 28-year-old man from Du Bois, Penn. and the SUV, being driven by Caisse, had three other teenagers inside. Police said the SUV was speeding near the truck, which had been driving in the center lane of the highway, and said the car veered into the truck’s lane.
The SUV collided with the right side of the truck’s camper, causing it to drive off the road to the right, police said. The car with the teenagers rolled over the guardrail and down a steep hill, then burst into flames.
Caisse was thrown from the vehicle and onto the road in the crash where she was hit and killed by multiple oncoming cars, police said.
“I never imagined picking up that phone call and hearing the news,” Samantha Catalano wrote Saturday night on Facebook[6]. “I’ll cherish any small moments I had with you!
From the little moments when you were little, to then growing up to be this stunningly gorgeous young lady! You will forever be missed!”
A 17-year-old boy riding passenger was also ejected later in the crash, police said. He had minor head injuries.
The 15- and 16-year-old girls in the back seats had minor injuries, police said, and all three teenagers were brought to Lawrence General Hospital.
The driver of the pickup truck was not injured.
All four teenagers were students at North Andover High School, according to school officials.
“Last night, four of our students were involved in a car accident on I-495,” Superintendent Gregg T. Gilligan wrote in a statement[8] posted to the high school’s website Friday.
“One of our grade 12 students, Brenna Caisse, and three other students were driving together when the accident occurred. Sadly, Brenna was killed on impact,” Gilligan continued. “This is a tragedy for the Caisse family, our school, and the North Andover community.
Our thoughts are with the Caisse family and the families of the other students involved in the accident.”
North Andover High School Principal Chet Jackson added that “Brenna had tremendous connections with staff and students.” The school was open Friday and Saturday to offer counseling resources for students and staff.
“I promise to be here for your family and will be here to help them in anyway I can,” Wood continued. “Although it breaks my heart there is nothing I can do to take away their pain!
All we can do is be here for them!
Until we meet again beautiful, you will forever be in my heart!”
The crash remains under investigation by the State Police-Andover Barracks, State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section, and State Police Crime Scene Services Section.
References
- ^ Brenna Caisse’s (www.masslive.com)
- ^ Facebook (www.facebook.com)
- ^ Brenna Caisse, 18, ID’d as North Andover student killed in I-495 crash (www.masslive.com)
- ^ fatal two-car crash (www.masslive.com)
- ^ Two people hospitalized after car crashes into home in Swansea (www.masslive.com)
- ^ Facebook (www.facebook.com)
- ^ Mass. teen driver car crash deaths at highest level since 2008, AAA says (www.masslive.com)
- ^ statement (www.northandoverpublicschools.com)
- ^ Truck overturns after Mass. teen drives into its path on I-95, police say (www.masslive.com)