NORTH ANDOVER — The family of a North Andover High School senior killed in a crash this week have said she was “funny, loving and happy.”
Brenna Caisse, 18, was killed in a crash Thursday night on Interstate 495 in Lawrence.
“We want everyone to remember Brenna as the glowingly beautiful, intensely happy, and loving girl that she was; to remember her infectious smile, sarcastically funny personality, to remember the precious sound of her laughter. The way we’ll always remember her,” the family said in a statement.
Since the accident the community has been in mourning and social media accounts of the family members have been flooded with well wishes.
“We want to thank everyone for all of the love and support that they’ve given to us,” concluded the family’s message.
Caisse was driving a 2005 GMC Envoy north when she veered into the path of a Dodge Ram truck pulling a camper, making contact with the right side of the camper.
Caisse lost control of the vehicle, which left the roadway to the east, hitting the curb and guardrail and rolling over before it came to rest down a steep slope beyond the guardrail. The vehicle caught fire and was engulfed in flames after the crash, police said.
Caisse died after she was ejected from the vehicle and was subsequently struck by other, oncoming vehicles, according to a State Police press release issued Friday.
A 17-year-old male passenger in the Envoy was also ejected. He sustained minor head injuries, according to the state police. Two passengers in the back seat, 15- and 16-year-old females, suffered minor injuries.
They were all transported to Lawrence General Hospital.
The driver of the Dodge suffered “no apparent serious injuries,” State Police said on Friday. On Saturday, a spokesperson said there was nothing new to add. The investigation is apparently ongoing.
A spokesperson for the family, Melissa Smerdon, said the family wants people to know Brenna really was.
“They want everyone to remember Brenna for who she was and not for the stereotypical way she’s being portrayed as a teenager driving too fast in the news. She made one mistake, one error in judgment,” Smerdon, a family friend, said.
North Andover High School Principal Chet Jackson said in a statement issued Friday that the accident has affected the entire town.
“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,” he said.
Jackson added that Caisse had “tremendous connections” with students and staff at the school.
On Saturday the North Andover High School was open for counseling resources. Psychologists, social workers and counselors will be made available for staff and students on Monday, Nov. 13.