Current:Home > Markets'I am going to die': Video shows North Dakota teen crashing runaway car at 113 mph -FutureFinance
'I am going to die': Video shows North Dakota teen crashing runaway car at 113 mph
View
Date:2025-04-14 01:57:54
When a North Dakota teen lost control of his accelerating vehicle, police ordered him to crash on purpose to save his life.
Samuel Dutcher, 18, was driving into Minnesota from North Dakota on the night of Sept. 17 when his vehicle would not stop accelerating, the Minnesota State Patrol confirmed to USA TODAY Wednesday. He called 911 and officials worked to find a way to stop the car without the West Fargo resident or anyone else getting hurt.
As his vehicle reached a speed of 113 mph, Minnesota State Trooper Zach Gruver managed to get in front of Dutcher's vehicle by moving at 130 mph and parked his squad car in its path. Clay County Deputy Zach Johnson then made the call for the teen to intentionally crash in a last stitch effort to save his life.
Watch teen saved by vehicle speeding 113 mph.
Deputy ordered teen to crash on purpose
"Yes, run into the back of his car," Johnson told Dutcher that night.
The spontaneous plan unraveled flawlessly with Dutcher saved without a single injury, according to Minnesota State Patrol.
"It’s not very often a sheriff’s deputy orders you to hit a State Patrol vehicle, but hitting Trooper Zach Gruver’s squad helped save 18-year-old Sam Dutcher’s life," state patrol wrote on Facebook.
Driver convinced he was about to die
When the vehicle's computer took over, Dutcher tried everything to stop, including the emergency brake to switching to neutral, according to local station WDAY-TV. Johnson initially told the driver that police were going to put stop sticks in his path but that plan was scrapped as time was running out, WDAY-TV reported.
"It hit me then that this really just happened," Dutcher told the station. "My mind started to go, 'I am going to die tonight.'"
He called his mother Catherine Dutcher, who immediately feared the worst.
"Early, honestly, I was like, 'My kid is probably dead.' I was like, 'God, please don't kill my kid, please don't,'" Catherine said.
Saved from this harrowing experience, Dutcher got to return to his life as an auto mechanics student at Minnesota State Community and Technical College in Moorhead, Minnesota.
Multiple media outlets were reporting the car was a 2022 Honda Pilot but police did not immediately confirm the make and model.
veryGood! (877)
Related
- Senate begins final push to expand Social Security benefits for millions of people
- Lab-grown palm oil could offer environmentally-friendly alternative
- Iga Swiatek’s US Open title defense ends with loss to Jelena Ostapenko in fourth round
- 23 people injured after vehicle crashes into Denny's restaurant
- Chuck Scarborough signs off: Hoda Kotb, Al Roker tribute legendary New York anchor
- 1881 Lake Michigan shipwreck found intact with crew's possessions: A remarkable discovery
- Reshaped Death Valley park could take months to reopen after damage from Hilary
- Miss last night's super blue moon? See stunning pictures of the rare lunar show lighting up the August sky
- FACT FOCUS: Inspector general’s Jan. 6 report misrepresented as proof of FBI setup
- Is the stock market open on Labor Day? What to know about Monday, Sept. 4 hours
Ranking
- Military service academies see drop in reported sexual assaults after alarming surge
- The Turkish president is to meet Putin with the aim of reviving the Ukraine grain export deal
- Former Afghan interpreter says Taliban tortured him for weeks but U.S. still won't give him a visa
- Endangered red wolves need space to stay wild. But there’s another predator in the way — humans
- From family road trips to travel woes: Americans are navigating skyrocketing holiday costs
- Remains of British climber who went missing 52 years ago found in the Swiss Alps
- UAW’s clash with Big 3 automakers shows off a more confrontational union as strike deadline looms
- Breastfeeding With Implants? Here's What to Know After Pregnant Jessie James Decker Shared Her Concerns
Recommendation
Former Syrian official arrested in California who oversaw prison charged with torture
Smash Mouth Singer Steve Harwell Is in Hospice Care
Good to be 'Team Penko': Jelena Ostapenko comes through with US Open tickets for superfan
More small airports are being cut off from the air travel network. This is why
Travis Hunter, the 2
West Virginia University crisis looms as GOP leaders focus on economic development, jobs
Louisiana's Tiger Island wildfire ruled arson, officials say
Louisiana's Tiger Island wildfire ruled arson, officials say