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
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.
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.
