Current:Home > Stocks'I am going to die': Video shows North Dakota teen crashing runaway car at 113 mph -Triumph Financial Guides
'I am going to die': Video shows North Dakota teen crashing runaway car at 113 mph
View
Date:2025-04-18 01:36:42
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! (6717)
Related
- New Zealand official reverses visa refusal for US conservative influencer Candace Owens
- 3 more defendants seek to move their Georgia election cases to federal court
- Teen survivor of Tubbs Fire sounds alarm on mental health effects of climate change
- Fed-up consumers are increasingly going after food companies for misleading claims
- Highlights from Trump’s interview with Time magazine
- Apple's iOS 17 is changing the way you check your voicemail. Here's how it works.
- The end of the dress code? What it means that the Senate is relaxing clothing rules
- Azerbaijan says it's halting offensive on disputed Armenian enclave
- Retirement planning: 3 crucial moves everyone should make before 2025
- On 50th anniversary of Billie Jean King’s ‘Battle of the Sexes’ win, a push to honor her in Congress
Ranking
- The FTC says 'gamified' online job scams by WhatsApp and text on the rise. What to know.
- Why Isn't Heidi Montag a Real Housewife? Andy Cohen Says...
- A federal agency wants to give safety tips to young adults. So it's dropping an album
- Second teenager arrested in video recorded hit-run crash of ex-California police chief in Las Vegas
- Federal Spending Freeze Could Have Widespread Impact on Environment, Emergency Management
- Vanna White extends 'Wheel of Fortune' contract through 2025-26 season
- Teachers say lack of paid parental leave makes it hard to start a family: Should I even be working here?
- Iran’s president urges US to demonstrate it wants to return to the 2015 nuclear deal
Recommendation
'Squid Game' without subtitles? Duolingo, Netflix encourage fans to learn Korean
‘ABC World News’ anchor David Muir chosen for Arizona State University’s Cronkite Award
Hunter Biden expected to plead not guilty on felony gun charges
Book excerpt: The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride
What do we know about the mysterious drones reported flying over New Jersey?
Shakira, Karol G, Édgar Barrera top 2023 Latin Grammy Award nominations
Julie Chen Moonves 'gutted' after ouster from 'The Talk': 'I felt robbed'
California truck drivers ask Newsom to sign bill saving jobs as self-driving big rigs are tested