A Rochester man is heading to state prison after a stolen U‑Haul, a high‑speed chase, and a deadly plunge into the Erie Canal.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — A Rochester man will spend nearly five decades in prison for a deadly U-Haul crash that ended in the Erie Canal.
A judge sentenced Ryan Armstrong to up to eight years in prison after he pleaded guilty to second-degree manslaughter back in February.
Prosecutors said Armstrong — on Sept. 2, 2025 — led police on a chase after he and Reginald Russell stole from a Walgreens, then accidentally drove the rented truck into the Erie Canal, near the border of Monroe and Orleans counties.
Armstrong managed to get out of the truck. Russell drowned.
The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office said Armstrong drove recklessly at speeds exceeding 85 mph before veering onto a canal service road and plunging the truck into the water in an attempt to evade police. Armstrong escaped and swam across the canal. Russell drowned.
Armstrong has had multiple prior law enforcement contacts in Monroe County dating back to May 2000, the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.