sent...fleeing = sen (them).. to escape?

[NewHopeR]

Context:

Word of Mr. Xue’s death brought the villagers into the streets and sent members of the village committee that was involved in the land negotiations fleeing.
Mr. Xue’s 21-year-old daughter, Xue Jianwan, said before the service that her father “was a straightforward man who always stood up for people.”
“Mom said that if he hadn’t been such a straightforward person, he probably wouldn’t have ended up like this,” she added.

More:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/17/wo...ewanted=2&_r=1

[Barb_D]

It caused them to run away.

[NewHopeR]

Got it.
Thanks.