After a regionwide search, a Westminster man was arrested yesterday morning in West Virginia and charged with trying to kill his ex-wife with a hammer Tuesday night, Maryland State Police said.

Anthony Thomas Hughes, 37, of the first block of Carroll Ave. was being held in West Virginia, charged with the first-degree attempted murder of Ellen M. Redifer, 39, and four counts of first- and second-degree assault involving his former wife, their 17-year-old daughter, the daughter's 19-year-old boyfriend and a neighbor of Redifer's.

Redifer was in critical condition at Maryland Shock Trauma Center last night, a hospital spokeswoman said.

State police responded to Redifer's home, in the 1400 block of Pleasant Valley Road in Westminster, about 7:37 p.m. Tuesday after an assault was reported in progress. Police allege that Hughes had entered Redifer's home and chased her, their daughter and the daughter's boyfriend out of the house.

A neighbor, John P. Glover, heard the commotion and left his home. Police said that he, the daughter and her boyfriend saw Redifer being struck several times with the claw end of a hammer. Police said Glover intervened and was hit in the side with the hammer and on his head with a razor knife. He was treated at Carroll County General Hospital and released.

Police said Hughes is accused of fleeing in a vehicle after trying to drive over Redifer - who was lying in the road - and the daughter and boyfriend, who were aiding her. Area police agencies were notified, and Hughes was arrested by Martinsburg, W.Va., police about 4 a.m. yesterday.