Current:Home > Finance'I am going to die': Video shows North Dakota teen crashing runaway car at 113 mph -WealthMindset Learning
'I am going to die': Video shows North Dakota teen crashing runaway car at 113 mph
View
Date:2025-04-18 17:09:31
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! (34)
Related
- Appeals court scraps Nasdaq boardroom diversity rules in latest DEI setback
- A toaster placed under a car to heat up the battery likely sparked a fire in Denmark, police say
- Longtime 'Fresh Air' contributor Dave Davies signs off (sort of)
- Police charge director of Miss Nicaragua pageant with running 'beauty queen coup' plot
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Hi Hi!
- Queen Bey's 'Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé' reigns at the box office with $21M opening
- Global warming could cost poor countries trillions. They’ve urged the UN climate summit to help
- Goodyear Blimp coverage signals pickleball's arrival as a major sport
- IRS recovers $4.7 billion in back taxes and braces for cuts with Trump and GOP in power
- 'Colin From Accounts' deserves a raise
Ranking
- Apple iOS 18.2: What to know about top features, including Genmoji, AI updates
- Israel expands Gaza ground offensive, says efforts in south will carry no less strength than in north
- OxyContin maker bankruptcy deal goes before the Supreme Court on Monday, with billions at stake
- Italian city of Bologna braces for collapse of leaning Garisenda Tower
- 'Malcolm in the Middle’ to return with new episodes featuring Frankie Muniz
- Paris stabbing attack which leaves 1 dead investigated as terrorism; suspect arrested
- Heidi Firkus' fatal shooting captured on her 911 call to report an intruder
- Deebo Samuel backs up trash talk with dominant outing in 49ers' romp against Eagles
Recommendation
'Survivor' 47 finale, part one recap: 2 players were sent home. Who's left in the game?
32 things we learned from NFL Week 13: Why miss out on the playoff controversy fun?
Alaska Airlines to buy Hawaiian Airlines in deal that may attract regulator scrutiny
NFL playoff picture: Packers leap into NFC field, Chiefs squander shot at lead for top seed
New data highlights 'achievement gap' for students in the US
Run, run Rudolph: Video shows deer crashing through NJ elementary school as police follow
Harris dashed to Dubai to tackle climate change and war. Each carries high political risks at home
Purdue Pharma bankruptcy plan that shields Sackler family faces Supreme Court review