An alleged second-time drunk driver was arrested early Sunday morning after police say he passed out behind the wheel in the high-speed lane of Interstate 93, awoke, and sped off, leading officers on a low-speed chase for three miles, according to Massachusetts State Police.

State Police said Trooper James DeAngelis spotted a stopped car in the left lane of I-93 northbound just before 5 a.m. Sunday near exit 13. DeAngelis pulled up behind it, got out of his car, and found a man asleep at the wheel of a 2005 Toyota Corolla, according to police.

DeAngelis woke up the driver, but when he saw the officer, the driver took off, leading DeAngelis and other troopers who responded to help on a low-speed chase on I-93.


The chase ended three miles later when the driver ran over a tire-deflation device set up by other troopers, which popped three of his tires just before the Tip O’Neill Tunnel.

Troopers arrested Eric Funes, 29 of Framingham, on charges of drunk driving (second offense), failure to stop for police, driving to endanger, and marked lanes violation.

Funes was released on bail, and is scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday, at Dorchester District Court.