TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) -- A trucker who led police on a chase through three northeast Kansas counties last year has been sentenced to nearly three years in prison.

Fifty-five-year-old Robert Smith was sentenced Thursday to two years and eight months in prison. He will serve the sentence in Pottawatomie County. He will also be on probation for two years after his release.

KMAN reports (http://bit.ly/HCtzAW ) Smith entered a no contest plea last month to attempted aggravated battery of a law enforcement officer and aggravated battery.

He was originally charged with several other counts, including attempted second-degree homicide.

Police chased Smith's 18-wheeler from Shawnee County to just north of Wamego. Four people were hospitalized after their vehicles were run off the road.