Police investigate a fatal crash on Thruway in Herkimer County

On February 20, 2025, at about 09:20 a.m., State Police responded to I-90 westbound at milepost maker 219.3 in the town of German Flatts, for a personal injury accident. 

A preliminary investigation revealed a 2019 Ford F150 pickup truck operated by Stephen J. Smith, age 55, from Herkimer, NY, was traveling eastbound in the westbound lane of I-90 when it struck a 2025 Peterbilt tractor-trailer, operated by Mark Young, age 46, from Boonville, NY that was traveling westbound.

Stephen J. Smith was pronounced deceased at the scene. Theodore E. Smith age 76, from Herkimer, NY a front passenger seat, and father to Stephen sustained minor injuries and signed off on any further medical attention.

The operator of the tractor trailer, Mark Young, was uninjured.