Q: my finder crashes

What other laptops did you connect it to?

What OS version on the others?

What OSX version on the problem one?

Do other USB HDs connect successfully with the problem Mac?

• Connnect the drive again and note the time of the Finder crash.  Then open the Console app in Finder>Applications>Utilities and look for log entries at the time of the problem. Post suspicious ones here.

You can also try:

- Try resetting the SMC and NVRAM/PRAM

Intel-based Macs: Resetting the System Management Controller (SMC)

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201295

About NVRAM and PRAM 

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204063

- Try starting in Safe Mode

OS X: What is Safe Boot, Safe Mode?

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201262

- Boot to Recovery and repair the startup disk

OS X: About OS X Recovery - Apple Support

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201314

- If it is repairable reinstall the OSX

How to reinstall OS X on your Mac - Apple Support

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204904

- If you do not have a backup use disk utility to restore the internal disk to an external disk so you can try to recover data.

Then format the startup disk and do a fresh install of OSX