A police safety checkpoint early Saturday ended with a chase, an overturned vehicle and two arrests.

Reports say that Troup County Sheriff’s Deputy Ben Blackburn was participating in a driver’s license safety checkpoint at about 12:10 a.m. at Pegasus Parkway and Old West Point Road, when he observed a vehicle make an abrupt u-turn to head back in the opposite direction. Blackburn got into his patrol vehicle to catch up to the black Chevrolet Blazer, which was turning left onto Sewon Blvd. without using a blinker and speeding. The deputy activated his blue lights to alert the driver of the pursuing vehicle, but the vehicle then accelerated and failed to stop, prompting Blackburn to activate his siren.

The Blazer traveled north on Sewon Blvd. in the oncoming lane of traffic, and then ran a stop sign when turning onto Orchard Hill east at a speed of 80 mph in 45 mph zone. The vehicle then lost control and headed north over the oncoming lane and hit the curb, causing it to flip down a wooden embankment where it came to a stop overturned.

LaGrange Fire and AMR were dispatched and the driver Joseph Moore, 44, of Hogansville, and passenger Amanda Nixon, 43, of Hogansville were removed by using the rear window. Both complained of injuries and were transported to West Georgia Health.

Moore’s background came back with a suspended license, nine active warrants through Troup County Sheriff’s Office and Meriwether County Sheriff’s Office. He was arrested for a fleeing/attempting to elude a police officer, reckless driving and driving while license suspended in this incident.

Nixon’s background came back with an active warrant for parole violation.

Upon leaving West Georgia Health, they were transported to Troup County Jail without incident.