A Lancaster man led CHP officers on a freeway pursuit from Bakersfield to Newhall after he allegedly hit other cars on the road Tuesday afternoon, officials said.

CHP officers arrested Robert Walsh, 47, about 2:20 p.m. on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and then determined him mentally unstable, said CHP Sgt. Rick Miler.

"He was ramming cars up in Bakersfield (and) fled the scene," Miler said, adding that Walsh led officers on the chase in his 2009 Prius for about an hour.

He kept a steady speed of about 50 mph, Miler added.

Officers followed Walsh southbound on Interstate 5 from the Grapevine area to the Newhall Pass and then northbound on Highway 14, Miler said.

They got him to pull over on Highway 14 near Placerita Canyon Road after calling him on his cell phone and talking him into giving himself up, Miler said.

After officers arrested Walsh, they determined him mentally disturbed and turned him over to Bakersfield officials, Miler said.

"He will be mentally evaluated by the appropriate medical facility upon his booking," he said.

Several vehicles were damaged during the incident, Miler said.