ESSEX -- A Willsboro woman is dead after a one-car accident in the Town of Essex early Thursday morning.

New York State Police took a call about a possible fatal accident on State Route 22 at about 4:39 a.m., according to a press release.

Investigation revealed Keshia B. Pierce, 23, of Sunset Drive, Willsboro was riding in a vehicle driven south on Route 22 by Ryan R. Bruno, 25, of Willsboro. Bruno reportedly lost control of the vehicle, which left the east side of the road and struck a tree head-on.

Pierce was pronounced dead at the scene by Essex County Coroner Walter S. Marvin III.

Dawn Bronson coached Pierce on the Willsboro Modified Girl's Soccer team several years ago. She was shocked when she heard about the accident later Thursday morning.

"She was the life of the team. She was very outgoing and fun to be around," Bronson said.

She recalled Pierce as a team leader, someone other players always looked up to.

"When something needed to be done, she always helped out," Bronson said.

She said Pierce had stopped by the school offices just before Christmas break and told her how well she was doing. Bronson said Pierce was one of those students who just stand out as they pass through school.

"She was fun," she said. "You remember that smile, you remember that face."

Ashley Alden, 19, said Pierce was captain of the Willsboro Central Cheerleading Squad when Alden was in 8th-grade. While she didn't know her that well, Alden said Pierce went out of her way to make the younger cheerleaders feel included.

"She lit up the room. She had a really great energy about her. She was always happy, always in a good mood."

She said Pierce had a presence about her, and was always willing to help people.

"It's sad she had to go. She was a very awesome person," Alden said.

Bruno was taken by ambulance to CVPH Medical Center in Plattsburgh by Essex Rescue personnel. He was later transferred to Fletcher Allen Health Care in Burlington, where he was listed in critical but stable condition.

Dr. C. Francis Varga performed an autopsy on Pierce at Adirondack Medical Center in Saranac Lake later Thursday and determined the cause of death to be multiple blunt-force traumatic injuries as a result of a motor vehicle collision with a tree. Police reported the manner of death remained under investigation.

The New York State Department of Transportation issued a road closure alert saying Route 22 was shut down between the north and south end of Middle Road as of 5:31 a.m. DOT reported it reopened as of 10:45 a.m.

The New York State Police Accident Reconstruction Unit and Bureau of Criminal Investigation responded to the accident and were continuing to investigate the crash. Anyone with information about the accident is asked to call the New York State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation in Lewis at 873-2799.