Finally escaped after people ran (5)
I believe the answer is:
raced
'ran' is the definition.
('race' can be a synonym of 'run')
'finally escaped after people' is the wordplay.
'finally' indicates one should take the final letters.
'after' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'people' becomes 'race'.
The last letter of 'escaped' is 'd'.
'd' put after 'race' is 'RACED'.
(Other definitions for raced that I've seen before include "Rushed" , "Ran fast" , "Competed" , "Travelled at speed" , "Dashed" .)