Woman flees police from I-81 to Virgil, crashes

A Skaneateles woman fled from State, County and City police after she refused to pull over on Interstate 81 and recklessly drove through the city before crashing in Virgil on Saturday night, according to officials.

  Shelley A. Singh, 46, of Skaneateles was driving south with a passenger when a trooper tried to pull her over at 7:59 p.m. in Preble for committing a traffic infraction, according to the state police. Instead of pulling over, Singh fled from the trooper and tried to escape through the city, leaving the interstate at Exit 11 for Cortland, according to police.

With troopers, Cortland County Sheriff’s Officers and Cortland Police Department officers all trying to stop her vehicle, Singh continued to evade police as she cut through city streets towards Virgil, said Trooper Aga Dembinska, the local public information officer.

After turning down Route 13 as she left the interstate headed south, Singh sped along Clinton Street to Main, passed the Clocktower Building as she headed down south Main to South Ave, where she cut across to Owego Street, according to city police.

Once on Owego Street Singh sped to Virgil, said Lt. David Guerrera.

“When she was in the city she was doing 45,” Guerrera said of her speed. “When she was not in the city she was doing 90.”

Within 12 minutes, Singh had evaded the initial Preble traffic stop and was in Virgil, according to the state police blotter.

Cortland County Sheriff’s Officers had set up a tire deflation device in preparation along Route 392 in Virgil, Dembinska said. The road intersects with Route 215, which is Owego Street in the city, near the former Virgil elementary school.

After driving over the sticks, Singh “went off the road and crashed,” said Guerrera.

No injuries were reported on the state police blotter regarding the incident.

Singh was arrested at 8:11 p.m. and charged with third-degree fleeing an officer in a motor vehicle, as well as reckless driving, both misdemeanors, according to state police. Her passenger was not charged.

An appearance ticket was issued for Singh scheduled for July 14 in Preble Town Court and she was released.