BARRE — A Berlin man was sentenced Friday in Barre criminal court on multiple charges stemming from a high-speed chase in October.

Erik A. Townsend, 28, is to serve eight to 15 months and pay a fine of $814 on charges of driving under the influence of alcohol, fourth offense; attempting to elude; careless and negligent operation of a motor vehicle; and driving with a suspended license. In the plea agreement, one count of vehicle operation at excessive speed was dismissed.

According to court documents, on Oct. 7 police saw two vehicles traveling west on Vermont Route 2 at between 50 and 55 mph in East Montpelier. The trooper stopped both vehicles, but Townsend took off and the trooper began pursuit.

With two passengers in his vehicle — an 18-year-old woman and 16-year-old girl — Townsend reached speeds of 70 to 90 mph on Route 2 heading toward Montpelier and at times crossed into the oncoming lane to navigate corners. Townsend then traveled the wrong way around the rotary at Route 302 and headed toward Barre. He lost control of the vehicle in Orange and hit several trees before stopping. When police arrived, there was no one with the vehicle.

Police called in a K-9 unit and tracked the three occupants of the car to a nearby barn. They yelled to police that the car had been hijacked and they had been held at gunpoint during the pursuit.

Police determined that Townsend was the driver, and a preliminary breath test showed he had a blood alcohol content of 0.202 percent.

According to police, Townsend was convicted of driving under the influence in 2004, 2005 and 2007.