Madison County, NY (September 23, 2025) – William Pufky, 58, a 23-year veteran deputy with the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office, died Monday at Upstate University Hospital following a motorcycle crash that occurred Sunday afternoon in Lincoln.
The crash happened at approximately 3:40 p.m. on September 21st September, 2025, on Nelson Road near Watson Road, when Pufky, riding a 1998 Harley Davidson motorcycle northbound, lost control, left the right shoulder, and entered a ditch, causing the motorcycle to overturn. He was riding with friends at the time, and no other vehicles were involved.
Emergency personnel airlifted Pufky to Upstate University Hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries. He had served as a custody deputy and public information officer and was recognized multiple times for his dedication to the department.
Authorities continue to review the incident, though preliminary reports indicate it was a single-vehicle crash with no involvement of other drivers. Pufky’s obituary highlighted his passions for family, motorcycles, hunting, and the outdoors, noting he “died doing what he loved.”