Instead, Utah Highway Patrol troopers caught them, cuffed them and sent them back to jail with a list of new offenses.
The first pursuit began at 10:30 p.m. Friday when troopers tried to pull over a motorist for speeding. The driver pulled over - for a moment - then punched his accelerator and led police on a chase reaching speeds up to 100 mph on State Road 201.
The pursuit turned south on Bangerter Highway, then continued to an industrial area, where the motorist cut his lights. After briefly evading police, the driver clunked into a canal.
The female passenger - who had recently undergone surgery - was hurt and couldn't escape. The driver fled on foot. K-9 units soon picked up the man's scent and tracked him to a nearby trailer, where he was lying on the floor.
The 27-year-old motorist was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail on suspicion of fleeing from police, interfering with an officer, drunken driving and possession of cocaine and drug paraphernalia.
UHP Trooper Preston Raban said the man, who formerly served jail time for unrelated crimes, simply didn't want to go back to jail.
The second chase started about 1 a.m. Saturday when a UHP trooper spotted a man driving without a working license plate light.
The motorist didn't pull over, but continued east at about 70 mph on State Road 201 until he reached Redwood Road. Police spiked the man's tires, but the flapping rubber didn't stop him.
Instead, he led police on a chase that slowed to 10 to 15 mph before he finally stopped in Cottonwood Heights near 6800 South and 1920 East. Even then, the man refused to cooperate with police, Raban said.
Troopers ultimately broke the motorist's car windows, shot him with a Taser and hauled him off to jail.
The 32-year-old driver, who had once served time in state prison, was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail on suspicion of fleeing from police, interfering with an officer, speeding, operating a vehicle without insurance and driving a vehicle that was not in safe mechanical condition.
jstettler@sltrib.com
