Staff Report / September 16, 2025
A Canandaigua woman is facing multiple charges after a late-night police pursuit stretched nearly 50 miles across Central New York before ending in a crash.
State Police say 37-year-old Caitlyn Hand was behind the wheel of a Chevrolet Traverse when troopers attempted a traffic stop in the town of Vienna just before midnight Saturday. Officers reported the SUV had failed to stay in its lane, but instead of pulling over, Hand allegedly accelerated and continued westbound at a high rate of speed.
The chase carried on for close to an hour, covering 49 miles across Oneida and Oswego counties. Troopers twice deployed tire-deflation devices in an effort to stop the vehicle. The pursuit came to a halt in the town of Sandy Creek, where the Traverse left the roadway and struck a tree.
Authorities said Hand was found unresponsive inside the SUV. Deputies administered naloxone, reviving her at the scene before she was transported to Samaritan Medical Center for evaluation.
She was later arraigned in Oneida County on charges including driving while impaired by drugs, fleeing law enforcement, reckless driving, and several traffic violations. Hand was released on her own recognizance pending further court proceedings.
