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NEPHI — Police arrested a woman Tuesday morning after a 130-mph chase ended in an elementary school parking lot in Nephi, leading to a campus lockdown and search.
Regina Farrell, 27, pulled over for a routine traffic stop on I-15 around 8:45 a.m. but sped off when the trooper approached her vehicle, according to Utah Highway Patrol officials.
The trooper took off in pursuit and chased her at speeds reaching 130 mph until she exited the freeway and headed toward Nephi. The trooper passed the chase on to local officers who eventually found Farrell's vehicle abandoned in Red Cliffs Elementary school.
The school was put on lockdown shortly after 9 a.m. as officers searched the school grounds.
Security videos showed the woman exiting the car and attempting to enter the school through the front door and several locked doors outside.
Soon after, authorities received a call that a couple was giving the woman a ride after finding her hiding near a house about half a block from the school. The couple became "spooked" as they approached Mona, and Farrell jumped out of the car near a gas station, police said.
Police found the woman standing near the station and arrested her.
A search warrant served on the vehicle revealed numerous incidents of identity theft and credit card fraud, according to Utah Highway Patrol officials. Farrell had traveled extensively, committing return fraud on merchandise bought with stolen checks or cards, police said.
There were six warrants for her arrest totaling $45,505.
She was booked into the Juab County Jail Tuesday, according to police.
The lockdown at Red Cliffs Elementary was lifted around 10 a.m.
