Keene, NY (November 17, 2025) – A deadly multi-vehicle crash on Route 73 in the town of Keene left one woman dead and another critically injured Monday afternoon, according to New York State Police.
Accident Details: Troopers responded to the scene around 3:52 p.m., after receiving reports of a major collision involving a tractor-trailer and two passenger vehicles. Investigators say a 2024 Freightliner tractor-trailer, driven by 35-year-old Samuel L. Stoner of Clifton Park, was traveling east when the driver lost control on a roadway made slick by slush. The truck jackknifed, sliding into the westbound lane.
At that moment, a 2022 Ford Escape driven by 57-year-old Tracy L. Mauler of Saranac Lake was heading westbound and was unable to avoid the overturned tractor-trailer. The vehicles collided, causing fatal injuries to Mauler, who was later pronounced dead at the scene by the Essex County Coroner.
Mauler’s passenger, 84-year-old Beverly A. Pickreign, also of Saranac Lake, sustained critical injuries. She was initially treated at Adirondack Medical Center and was subsequently transferred to the University of Vermont Medical Center, where she remains in critical condition.
Behind the Ford Escape, a 2018 Toyota Scion attempted to steer clear of the collision but struck the jackknifed trailer and slid off the roadway, crashing into a rock wall. The occupants of the Scion, along with tractor-trailer driver Samuel Stoner, were not injured.
Investigation: New York State Police are continuing to investigate the circumstances that led to this fatal multi-vehicle crash. As part of their work, investigators will focus on several key areas:
- Roadway conditions. Investigators will examine the slush, ice, and overall surface friction to determine how winter weather contributed to the tractor-trailer losing control.
- Mechanical systems. The truck’s brakes, tires, and steering components will be inspected to confirm whether any mechanical issues played a role in the jackknife.
- Electronic data. Event data recorders from both the Freightliner and the Ford Escape will be reviewed to evaluate speed, braking, and steering inputs in the moments before impact.
- Scene evidence. Troopers will document skid marks, debris fields, and the final resting positions of the vehicles to reconstruct the sequence of events.
- Witness and driver statements. Investigators will interview involved motorists and witnesses to better understand how quickly road conditions changed and whether evasive actions were attempted.
- Driver behavior. Authorities will assess factors such as speed, reaction time, and familiarity with winter driving to determine whether human error contributed to the loss of control.
Accident reconstruction is often utilized in winter-weather crashes to help clarify how environmental conditions, vehicle dynamics, and driver actions combined to produce the outcome.
Legal Considerations: Drivers are expected to adjust their speed and driving behavior to match roadway conditions, especially during winter weather. When a driver fails to maintain control of a vehicle on slushy or icy pavement, especially a large commercial truck, that loss of control may be considered negligent if it results from traveling too quickly for the conditions or not exercising reasonable caution.
In fatal and injury crashes, families may have the right to pursue wrongful death or personal injury claims if evidence shows that unsafe driving behavior contributed to the collision. Compensation may include funeral and burial costs, medical expenses, long-term care needs, lost income, and emotional losses.
Investigators will also consider whether the trucking company maintained the Freightliner properly and whether the driver had the training and experience necessary to operate in winter weather. If mechanical issues, poor maintenance, or inadequate training are identified, the company may share responsibility.
My heartfelt condolences go out to the family and loved ones of Tracy L. Mauler. I also wish strength and healing to Beverly Pickreign as she fights to recover from her injuries.
Source: FingerLakes 1