Northbridge man arrested after 15-mile chase

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Alert motorists followed a man driving erratically for 15 miles through rush hour traffic until Rhode Island state police apprehended him.

Robert Morris, 33, of Northbridge, Mass., drove from Providence to North Smithfield, R.I., Thursday, striking Jersey barriers and guardrails until he was arrested at a traffic light, police said.

Morris pleaded no contest Friday to charges of driving while intoxicated, possession of marijuana and leaving the scene of an accident, The Providence Journal reported.

Police said the chase started when Morris struck a car in Providence, but continued driving. A motorist pulled in front of Morris and slowed down, but Morris rear-ended that car and drove on, police said.

Police said several other cars, using hand signals to communicate, surrounded Morris' vehicle, shielding other drivers from his path, until state police could stop him.