APPLETON, Wis. (AP) -- A convict who failed to return to the Calumet County jail committed suicide with a knife over the weekend during a police chase in Ohio.

Mark A. Peters, 44, of Kimberly, was serving a one-year jail sentence for disorderly conduct-domestic abuse and was on work release privileges when he failed to return to jail March 14, County Sheriff Jerry Pagel told The Post-Crescent in Appleton.

Pagel said Peters was picked up from the jail March 14 and was driven to the Outagamie County Regional Airport, where he rented a car.

According to an Ohio State Highway Patrol news release, a 2007 vehicle listed as stolen was noticed by the agency's automatic plate recognition system on the Ohio turnpike just before 1:30 p.m. Saturday.

Troopers attempted to stop Peters, but he fled the turnpike, exited south on State 109 and crashed through a toll gate.

The suspect continued to U.S. Route 2, where he made a U-turn onto northbound State Route 109 where a trooper used stop sticks to disable the vehicle. The suspect, having one tire deflated, slowed his vehicle to a stop.

"When troopers approached his vehicle the suspect was already deceased, having taken his own life from an apparent knife wound," the Ohio State Patrol said.

Pagel said Ohio authorities told him Peters swerved toward a squad car during the pursuit, and also nearly collided with another vehicle at an intersection.

Peters had only served a couple days and apparently just started a job before fleeing, Pagel said.

Online court records show Peters had a long record for mostly traffic and misdemeanor violations.

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Information from: The Post-Crescent, http://www.postcrescent.com

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)