A guilty plea in the case of a man who drove a U-Haul Truck into the Erie Canal during a police chase last year, killing his passenger.

Ryan Armstrong pleaded guilty to manslaughter after leading officers on a pursuit.

Police say he and another man were seen shoplifting from a Walgreens in Brockport.

The chase crossed into Orleans County, where Armstrong drove the truck straight into the Erie Canal.

He swam away, but his passenger, 56-year-old Reginald Russell, went under and drowned

With Wednesday’s plea deal, he now faces four to eight years in state prison.

Sentencing is in April.