KEENE — One Saranac Lake woman is dead and another is in critical condition following a three-vehicle crash in the Cascade Pass section of state Route 73 in the town of Keene on Monday afternoon.

Tracy L. Mauler, 57, of Saranac Lake was unresponsive and pronounced dead on the scene by the Essex County Coroner. Beverly A. Pickreign, 84, of Saranac Lake, is in critical condition as of Tuesday afternoon, according to State Police. Pickreign was transported to Adirondack Medical Center in Saranac Lake and later transferred to UVM Medical Center for further treatment, where she remains.

There were no other deaths or injuries as a result of the crash, which occurred at approximately 3:52 p.m. on Monday. State Police said a white 2024 Freightliner tractor-trailer, operated by Samuel L. Stoner, 35, of Clifton Park, was traveling east on state Route 73 when he lost control of his vehicle due to slush on the roadway. The trailer jackknifed and entered the westbound lane.

Mauler, driving a 2022 Ford Escape with Pickreign as a passenger, was traveling westbound and was unable to avoid the jackknifed tractor-trailer, resulting in a collision, according to State Police.

A vehicle traveling westbound behind Mauler, a blue 2018 Toyota Scion with two occupants, attempted to avoid the crash. The vehicle made slight contact with the tractor-trailer before continuing off the roadway and coming to rest after striking a rock wall.

State Police Public Information Officer Trooper Brandi Ashley confirmed that everyone involved in the crash was wearing a seat belt at the time. Stone and the two Scion occupants were evaluated by local first responders and were deemed to be uninjured.

Ashley said the investigation is active and ongoing, and that State Police would not comment on the speeds of the vehicles at the time of the crash, as those are still being determined by investigators.

A full list of responding departments and agencies was not available as of 2 p.m. Tuesday. The crash closed traffic in both directions for a time, with a detour route established between Lake Placid and Keene along the River Road, state Route 86, Fox Farm Road, Springfield Road and state Route 9N. Ashley said state Route 73 reopened to traffic around 9:30 p.m. Monday.