Driver Arrested After High-speed Chase Ends in Erie Canal, Passenger Drowns

A Monroe County man is in custody following a fatal police chase that ended in tragedy on the Erie Canal.

According to the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office, deputies attempted to pull over 43-year-old Ryan Armstrong on Tuesday evening after reports surfaced that he and another individual had stolen items from a Walgreens in Brockport.

Instead of stopping, authorities say Armstrong sped off in a U-Haul truck, sparking a pursuit that reached speeds topping 85 miles per hour. Investigators said the chase eventually veered onto an Erie Canal service road where Armstrong drove straight into the canal in an effort to escape.

Deputies reported that Armstrong managed to swim away from the sinking vehicle, but his passenger was unable to escape and drowned.

Sheriff’s deputies later used drone technology to track Armstrong’s location, allowing them to arrest him. He is now facing a charge of second-degree manslaughter in Orleans County and is being held without bail.

Driver Arrested After High-Speed Chase Ends in Erie Canal, Passenger Drowns