Police Magazine Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

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.

by Staff
October 1, 2024
Minnesota Officers Rescue Teen Trapped in SUV Accelerating Out of Control

A Minnesota State Patrol trooper inspects the damage from the Honda SUV running into the back of Trooper Zach Gruver's Charger.

Credit:

Minnesota State Patrol

1 min to read



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.

Ad Loading...

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.

Ad Loading...

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.

Ad Loading...


Dutcher is now back at Minnesota State University in Moorhead studying auto mechanics.

Gruver is still on duty.

Ad Loading...

More Patrol

Black background, outline of Florida, headline 2 Officers Shot
Patrolby Wayne ParhamJanuary 14, 2026

2 Florida Officers Shot After Shots-Fired Call

Two officers were shot in Gainesville, Florida, by a man who police say was leaving an area where he had killed a man inside a business. The suspect exited his vehicle in what the chief termed an “ambush-style” attack.

Read More →
Blue-tinted background photo of hand hanging up an office phone and headline Richmond Heights PD: Harassment and Threats Will Be Addressed Accordingly
PatrolJanuary 14, 2026

Mistaken Identity: Ohio Police Department Harassed After ICE OIS

An Ohio police department has received harassing phone calls and social media messages because it has an officer with the same name as the ICE officer identified in the Minneapolis, Minnesota, officer-involved shooting.

Read More →
Black background with POLICE logo, police light bar, and headline Top 10 Videos of 2025.
Patrolby Wayne ParhamJanuary 7, 2026

Top 10 POLICE Videos of 2025

What were the top videos published by POLICE in 2025? Many covered tactics and officer safety, while others came from booth visits at IACP in Denver, Colorado. In case you missed these, here are the top 10 videos.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Blue tinted background of a police dispatcher with headline Flock Safety + Coreforce Integation
TechnologyJanuary 7, 2026

Flock Safety and Coreforce Partner to Enhance Real-Time Awareness and Operational Efficiency for Law Enforcement

A new integration partnership will enable Flock Safety hotlist alerts and license plate recognition (LPR) searches directly in Coreforce’s Real-Time Crime Center (RTCC) and Digital Evidence Management System (DEMS) platform.

Read More →
three background images - man in tactical gear, image of ballistic helmet, photo of police officer in tactical gear approaching a car, and a circle with logo for Ballistic Armor Co.
PatrolJanuary 7, 2026

Ballistic Armor Co. Secures Strategic Investment to Expand U.S. Production Capabilities

Ballistic Armor Co. secured a new commitment that will accelerate its multi-year transition from a third-party tactical equipment retailer to a premium innovator and U.S. manufacturer of advanced protective systems.

Read More →
image of men on bicycles and women competing in martial arts and a log for the US Police & Fire Championships
PatrolDecember 10, 2025

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 →
Ad Loading...
Thumbnail for video series POLICE Topics, Tactic & TIps against a black background and an illuminated police car light bar. Headline for Tips for Watching the Hands
Sponsoredby Wayne ParhamDecember 5, 2025

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 →
Thumbnail for video series POLICE Topics, Tactics & Tips with yellow headline 10 Tips for Felony/High-Risk Stops.
Sponsoredby Wayne ParhamDecember 3, 2025

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 →
Screenshot of compute screen showing a blurred license plate compared to an image where the image has been enhanced to show the numbers and letters.
Patrolby Edited by StaffNovember 25, 2025

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 →
Ad Loading...
Background orange tinted image of southern California with pushpin marking Burbank. Headline reads K-9 Killed by Gunman, Burbank Police Department
PatrolNovember 24, 2025

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 →