LEWISTON — An Alabama woman was taken for psychiatric evaluation Tuesday night after leading police on a chase on the Maine Turnpike.

Police said 51-year-old Carla Williams of Homewood, Alabama, was taken into custody only after spike strips disabled her tires just before the toll plaza in New Gloucester.

At about 5:30 p.m., Maine State Police began looking for a red SUV after receiving numerous reports of the vehicle traveling at high speeds and weaving in an out of traffic on the Auburn stretch of the turnpike, officials said.

A short time later, police spotted the vehicle near mile marker 83 on the turnpike in Lewiston. The driver failed to stop, however, and the chase continued along the turnpike.

“Spike strips were deployed around mile marker 68 in New Gloucester and the vehicle’s tires started to deflate,” according to a State Police press release. “The vehicle came to a stop before the toll plaza southbound and a high-risk stop was initiated.”

The drama caused southbound traffic to come to a complete stop on the turnpike, police said.

Williams was charged with driving to endanger and failing to stop for police before she was taken to a hospital for evaluation.