Current:Home > My'I am going to die': Video shows North Dakota teen crashing runaway car at 113 mph -FinanceCore
'I am going to die': Video shows North Dakota teen crashing runaway car at 113 mph
View
Date:2025-04-15 01:47:22
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! (66167)
Related
- 'Kraven the Hunter' spoilers! Let's dig into that twisty ending, supervillain reveal
- In this Oklahoma town, almost everyone knows someone who's been sued by the hospital
- Biden and Netanyahu have finally talked, but their visions still clash for ending Israel-Hamas war
- Small plane that crashed off California coast was among a growing number of home-built aircraft
- Who's hosting 'Saturday Night Live' tonight? Musical guest, how to watch Dec. 14 episode
- Former USWNT star Sam Mewis retires. Here's why she left soccer and what she's doing next
- Proof Sophie Turner and Peregrine Pearson's Romance Is Heating Up
- Princess Diana's Black Cocktail Dress Sells for This Eye-Popping Price
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Hi Hi!
- Now eyeing a longer haul, the US reshuffles its warships in the Mediterranean
Ranking
- Where will Elmo go? HBO moves away from 'Sesame Street'
- Rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine arrested by Dominican authorities on domestic violence charges
- South Dakota bill advances, proposing more legal representation for people who can’t pay
- Swatting calls target more than a dozen public officials since Christmas. One says, This is an assassination attempt.
- Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow owns a $3 million Batmobile Tumbler
- Kraft Singles introduces 3 new cheese flavors after 10 years
- Hunter Biden to appear for deposition on Feb. 28, House Republicans say
- NYC mayor vetoes bill expanding reporting of police stops, faces override by City Council
Recommendation
'Malcolm in the Middle’ to return with new episodes featuring Frankie Muniz
AP Week in Pictures: Asia
'Cozy' relationship between Boeing and the U.S. draws scrutiny amid 737 Max 9 mess
Alabama inmate asking federal appeals court to block first-ever execution by nitrogen gas
'Vanderpump Rules' star DJ James Kennedy arrested on domestic violence charges
Pennsylvania school district votes to reinstate Native American logo criticized as insensitive
For Netflix documentaries, there’s no place like Sundance
Kansas court upholds a man’s death sentence, ruling he wasn’t clear about wanting to remain silent