When 18-year-old Sam Dutcher called 911 to tell them his Honda Pilot was accelerating out of control on Highway 32, a Minnesota State Patrol trooper and a Clay County deputy responded.
Minnesota Officers Rescue Teen Trapped in SUV Accelerating Out of Control
Sam Dutcher’s car sped through busy intersections and small towns in western Minnesota and he was sure he was going to die.

A Minnesota State Patrol trooper inspects the damage from the Honda SUV running into the back of Trooper Zach Gruver's Charger.
Minnesota State Patrol
Before the Sept. 17 incident was over, Dutcher traveled more than 30 miles at speeds reaching 113 mph, Inforum reports.
Dutcher’s car sped through busy intersections and small towns and he was sure he was going to die.
Dutcher tried everything he and Trooper Zach Gruver and Deputy Zach Johnson could think of to stop the vehicle.
Nothing worked. The vehicle's computer had taken over. Dutcher couldn't shut it off, get it in neutral or engage the emergency brake.
A dead end was approaching and the deputy and trooper realized they had to take extreme action.
Gruver was in a Charger and used the muscle car’s acceleration to speed in front of the Pilot.
Johnson driving alongside Dutcher ordered Dutcher to crash into the trooper's car.
Dutcher was not sure he understood the command.
"Yes, run into the back of his (the trooper's) car," Johnson ordered the teen.
The crash stopped Dutcher’s vehicle and neither he nor Trooper Gruver were seriously injured.
Dutcher is now back at Minnesota State University in Moorhead studying auto mechanics.
Gruver is still on duty.
More Patrol

Police & Fire Championships Expands Athlete Eligibility
The US Police & Fire Championships is now open to all employees – sworn, civilian, administrative, technical, and support staff – who work directly for an eligible public safety agency.
Read More →Tips for Watching the Hands
How can officers better “watch the hands”? Mike Willis, Law Enforcement National Training and Program Director for the US Deputy Sheriff's Association, shares some tips.
Read More →10 Tips for Felony/High-Risk Stops
What steps can officers take to stay safer during felony or high-risk vehicle stops? Here are 10 tips from Mike Willis, Law Enforcement National Training and Program Director for the US Deputy Sheriff's Association.
Read More →
Amped Highlights Power Behind Amped FIVE Software
Amped FIVE empowers you to advance your investigations with confidence and precision, from the crime scene all the way to the courtroom.
Read More →
Police K-9 Killed, Suspect Dies in Shootout with Cops
A Burbank Police Department K-9 was fatally shot over the weekend by a passenger who fled on foot from a traffic stop. The armed suspect was killed in a shootout with officers.
Read More →From the Show Floor: InVeris
In this video, learn about how InVeris provides training to law enforcement, including customized augmented reality scenarios. The augmented reality system can scan up to 10,000 square feet of real-life environments and create a curriculum based on those spaces.
Read More →From the Show Floor: Polaris Government & Defense
Learn about Polaris Government & Defense in this video as POLICE visits their show booth to discover their side-by-sides and the advantages they provide for agencies.
Read More →
2026 Ford Pro™ Police & Special Service Vehicles Guide is Available for Download
Ford Pro™ meets the needs of law-enforcement agencies
Read More →
Dashcam Video Shows Officers Rescue Man from Burning Car
Dashcam video released by a New Jersey police department shows two of its officers rescuing an unconscious man from a burning car after a crash.
Read More →
Aimpoint COA optic + A-CUT Named Red Dot of the Year
The Aimpoint COA optic + A-CUT system has been named Red Dot of the Year by Guns & Ammo magazine. The new optic system was introduced in January 2025.
Read More →
