Mark Shidler Obituary, Death; Tractor-trailer crash on I-90 in Brutus kills one, injures two

Mark Shidler Obituary, Death – On August 7, 2025, a fatal accident occurred on the eastbound lanes of Interstate 90 in Brutus, New York, resulting in one death and two injuries. According to the New York State Police, the incident happened at around 4:57 p.m. and involved a tractor trailer and a passenger vehicle.
Authorities reported that the tractor trailer, operated by 50-year-old Mark Shidler of Applecreek, Ohio, was traveling in the westbound passing lane when it unexpectedly crossed the median and the guiderail. The vehicle then entered the eastbound lanes, colliding head-on with a 2022 Honda. The force of the crash caused the Honda to flip multiple times before coming to rest, leaving its occupants trapped inside the wreckage.
The Honda was driven by a 24-year-old man from Syracuse, who had a 22-year-old passenger, also from Syracuse. Emergency crews worked to free them from the vehicle. The passenger sustained severe injuries and was flown by air ambulance to Upstate Hospital in Syracuse, where they remain in stable but critical condition. The driver was transported to the hospital by ground ambulance and has since been released after treatment.
Shidler, the tractor trailer driver, suffered fatal injuries in the collision and was pronounced dead at the scene. Officials noted that the impact and resulting debris severely damaged both vehicles, and the wreckage spread across multiple lanes, making cleanup operations challenging.
The crash caused significant traffic disruption, with eastbound lanes experiencing a backup of approximately 5.1 miles. For about three hours, traffic was either slowed or completely stopped as law enforcement, firefighters, and medical teams responded to the scene. The New York State Department of Transportation assisted in managing traffic flow while crews worked to clear the roadway.
By the evening, authorities confirmed that the cleanup had been completed and normal traffic conditions had resumed. However, investigators remained at the site for several hours, collecting evidence and examining factors that may have led to the crash. This included checking for possible mechanical failures, roadway conditions, and driver-related causes such as fatigue or medical emergencies.
The New York State Police emphasized that the investigation is still ongoing. They have not released information on whether weather conditions played a role, nor have they disclosed any findings from initial inspections of the tractor trailer. Witnesses to the incident or anyone with relevant dashcam footage have been urged to contact state police to assist in piecing together the moments leading up to the collision.
This tragic crash underscores the dangers of high-speed travel on interstate highways, particularly when large commercial vehicles are involved. While the cause remains under review, authorities are using the incident as a reminder to drivers to remain alert, obey speed limits, and maintain safe distances from other vehicles, especially when sharing the road with tractor trailers. The community has expressed condolences to the victims’ families as they await further details from the investigation.