The town of Lawrence in St. Lawrence County is reeling after a fatal crash that claimed the life of 53-year-old Tammy Brunette-Kaska of Chateaugay. The collision happened on May 29, 2026, at about 9:19 p.m. at the intersection of County Route 55 and U.S. Route 11. What began as an ordinary evening turned into a scene of chaos and irreversible loss.
Tammy was a front-seat passenger in a 2016 Honda CR-V driven by 49-year-old Jesse P. Kaska, also from Chateaugay. The vehicle was traveling eastbound on U.S. Route 11 when another SUV, a 2017 Chevrolet Traverse, entered the intersection from County Route 55.
Authorities say the Traverse was driven northbound by 55-year-old Ricky L. DeShane of Brasher Falls. Investigators reported that the driver failed to stop at the intersection, leading to a violent impact on the passenger side of the CR-V.
Inside the CR-V were five people in total: the driver Jesse P. Kaska, Tammy Brunette-Kaska, and three teenagers. The teens include a 17-year-old male from Chateaugay, a 16-year-old female from Chateaugay, and a 14-year-old male from Brushton. All were injured in the crash.
Emergency responders rushed all occupants to Canton-Potsdam Hospital. Tammy was admitted for treatment but later died from her injuries. Her death marked the most severe outcome of the crash and deepened the grief spreading through her community.
The driver of the CR-V remains hospitalized in stable condition, while the three teenagers were transferred to Upstate University Hospital. They are reported to be in stable but critical condition. The driver of the Chevrolet Traverse was also taken to Alice Hyde Medical Center with injuries described as non-life-threatening.
The impact of the crash has left family members and neighbors struggling to process the sudden loss. Those who knew Tammy describe her as a steady and familiar presence in their lives, someone deeply connected to her family and community.
As investigators continue to review the circumstances surrounding the failure to stop at the intersection, the focus in Lawrence and Chateaugay has shifted toward grief, recovery, and support for the injured survivors.
Tammy Brunette-Kaska will be remembered for her presence, her role within her family, and the void left behind in a community now marked by an abrupt and painful loss.
