John O'Neil will never forget Monday's morning commute to work in Salem.

The Jefferson man was driving north on Interstate 5 when he noticed a blue van weaving and bumping the concrete barriers.

O'Neil stayed at least 400 feet behind her, flashers on, and signaled other drivers not to pass using "the universal sign of drinking, tilting my hand back and pointing at her."

"She was driving so erratic that people were trying to get around her. She'd almost hit another car as it went by, so I got right in the middle of the road and put my emergency flashers on," he said.

He trailed the driver for 16 miles, then followed as the driver took the Mission Street/Highway 22 exit in South Salem. At that point, O'Neil, a Captain with Jefferson Rural Fire Protection District, had to act.

He says had to do something to prevent the driver from pulling onto the busy Highway 22, which has two-way traffic, concerned about a head-on collision. While the light was red, he leapt into action.

"I made eye contact with her, then spun my car out in front of her van and parked right in her lane."

This move blocked her van. When the woman rolled down the window, he reached in and grabbed her car keys.

O'Neil knew other drivers had called 9-1-1, so he waited with the driver's keys until an Oregon State Police trooper arrived.

Authorities arrested 28-year-old Bridget Lanier.

OSP confirms Lanier's blood-alcohol level was nearly twice the legal limit and she was charged with driving while under the influence. She was booked into the Marion County jail and released later in the day.

O'Neil he firefighter has no regrets.

"I've seen my fair share of drunk driving crashes. I feel good about that but I would not recommend anyone else try to do it."

A sergeant with Oregon State Police agrees, and recommends others do not try this. He says while this case ended well, he advises you call 9-1-1 if you suspect a drunk driver is sharing the road.