Rochester man sentenced for deadly U-Haul crash into Erie Canal

BROCKPORT, N.Y. — A Rochester man was sentenced to prison Wednesday in a deadly U-Haul crash that ended in the Erie Canal. 

RELATED: MCSO: One suspect dead, another arrested, after U-Haul drives into Erie Canal during chase (Sept. 2, 2025)

A judge sentenced Ryan Armstrong four-eight years in prison after he pleaded guilty to second-degree manslaughter in February.

RELATED: Man pleads guilty to manslaughter after U-Haul crash in Erie Canal in September (Feb. 12)

Prosecutors say Armstrong led police on a chase after him and Reginald Russell stole stuff from a Walgreens, then intentionally drove the rented truck into the canal. 

Click here to see U-Haul being pulled out from the canal.

The U-Haul crashed near the border of Monroe and Orleans Counties, around Sans Souci Park. Armstrong escaped, but Russell, his passenger, drowned. 

According to Orleans County Sheriff’s deputies, speeds reached over 85 miles per hour during the chase.

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• Deputies identify passenger in deadly U-Haul crash into the Erie Canal, driver appears in court (Sept. 3, 2025)

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