THESSALONIKI (Greece) -- Two people died in northern Greece on Saturday while trying to evade police checkpoints, according to police in Thessaloniki.

Twelve other passengers were also injured in the passenger vehicle, with the most severe injuries sustained by those who were left behind in the car's trunk.

Police said both of the victims were Pakistanis and that the driver was a 27-year old. Nine Pakistanis and three Afghans were among the injured.

The vehicle was traveling from Greece's border west to Thessaloniki when it was stopped at a checkpoint. The car accelerated through the checkpoint, leading to a chase of 50 kilometers (31 miles) by police until it crashed into a barrier.

Police say that the driver, aged 27, had been convicted of human trafficking as well as robberies.