A Utah Highway Patrol trooper pulled off to the side of northbound I-15 near South Salt Lake minutes before 5:30 a.m. Thursday morning, looking over his shoulder for a stolen vehicle. Moments later, the long yellow school bus cruised by amidst light commuter traffic.So began a wild chase that included numerous brake-checks, a collision with a Taylorsville Police K9 unit vehicle and a dangerous bid to escape through a red light.The chase led from northbound I-15 into Salt Lake City. Several times, the bus driver attempted to trick the pursuing trooper by veering toward off-ramps, only to swerve back into the freeway lanes at the last minute. The bus did end up leaving I-15 though, taking the ramp to go westbound on I-80. It then exited northbound on Redwood Road.The trooper was still close behind, but ultimately called off the chase after the bus, which had been stolen from the Canyons School District motor pool, ran the red light at North Temple. The entire incident left seasoned troopers dumbfounded."I can't even imagine why anyone would steal a school bus," said UHP Sgt. Larry Mower.The stolen bus turned up a bit further north, crashed into a tree, at roughly 500 North Redwood Road. The driver had apparently fled on foot."We will pursue any avenue that we can to identify this suspect and bring him into custody," said Mower.There were no children and other other passengers on the bus at the time of the chase.