LEWISTON – An Auburn woman who took off from a traffic stop here, then led a chase down Route 196 and swerved onto a curb in Brunswick to avoid a spike mat in the road, was eventually nabbed in Richmond Thursday morning, according to police.

Sgt. Mark Cornelio stopped Rena Berube, 42, on Webster Street just before 9 a.m. for driving an unregistered car, Lt. Paul Harmon said.

Berube allegedly refused to identify herself, and while still talking to Cornelio, jabbed the keys into the ignition and drove away in the blue 1993 Plymouth Colt. Harmon said the officer tried to stop her by grabbing her arm.

He followed her down Lisbon Street, reaching speeds of 70 mph, before deciding the chase was unsafe and calling officers in the next town, Harmon said.

Berube wound her way through Lisbon, then Brunswick, before finally driving over two spike mats on Route 202 in Richmond. At that point, Topsham, Richmond and state police were in pursuit.

“She was popular,” quipped Topsham Sgt. Fred Dunn. Berube was charged with attempting to elude an officer and passing a police road block in Topsham.

In Lewiston, Berube faces charges of operating after suspension, eluding an officer, driving an unregistered motor vehicle, driving to endanger and failing to stop at a stop sign or red light.