VIDALIA — A Vidalia man is behind bars after reportedly trying to drive his car off the Mississippi River bridge while being chased by state police after a fight with his girlfriend spilled onto the roadway Monday night.

Concordia Parish Capt. David Hedrick said the sheriff’s office received a domestic dispute call at 8:34 p.m. from a friend of the girlfriend of Matthew McGhee, 26, 660 Eagle Road.

The girlfriend and her friend, Hedrick said, left McGhee’s house during a fight, and McGhee chased her until she pulled into the sheriff’s office.

Hedrick said McGhee looped around the sheriff’s office parking lot and headed toward the bridge. A Louisiana state trooper spotted McGhee’s 2007 Chrysler Sebring and was in pursuit when McGhee attempted to run his car off the bridge.

“Luckily the rails stopped him,” Hedrick said.

Hedrick said McGhee is being charged with simple criminal damage to property, careless operation and simple flight from an officer.

Hedrick said a DUI breathalyzer test showed McGhee was not intoxicated when he crashed his car.