Current:Home > News'I am going to die': Video shows North Dakota teen crashing runaway car at 113 mph -ProsperityStream Academy
'I am going to die': Video shows North Dakota teen crashing runaway car at 113 mph
View
Date:2025-04-13 02:33:33
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! (24)
Related
- Scoot flight from Singapore to Wuhan turns back after 'technical issue' detected
- Why Tonga’s Iconic Flag Bearer Pita Taufatofua Isn't Competing at the 2024 Olympics
- The next political powder keg? Feds reveal plan for security at DNC in Chicago
- What’s in a name? GOP vice presidential nominee JD Vance has had many of them
- Trump invites nearly all federal workers to quit now, get paid through September
- NORAD intercepts Russian and Chinese bombers off coast of Alaska
- Airline catering workers threaten to strike as soon as next week without agreement on new contract
- World record in 4x100 free relay could fall at these Olympics
- B.A. Parker is learning the banjo
- Hope you aren’t afraid of clowns: See Spirit Halloween’s 2024 animatronic line
Ranking
- 2 killed, 3 injured in shooting at makeshift club in Houston
- AI 'art' is ruining Instagram and hurting artists. This is what needs to change.
- The Daily Money: Stocks suffer like it's 2022
- We might be near end of 'Inside the NBA' – greatest sports studio show ever
- Where will Elmo go? HBO moves away from 'Sesame Street'
- Wealthy millennials are rejecting stocks for 'alternative' investments. What are they?
- Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Charly Barby & Kelly Villares Have Emotional Reaction to Finally Making Team
- Son of Ex-megachurch pastor resigns amid father's child sex abuse allegations
Recommendation
Who are the most valuable sports franchises? Forbes releases new list of top 50 teams
Why Tonga’s Iconic Flag Bearer Pita Taufatofua Isn't Competing at the 2024 Olympics
Baton Rouge Metro Councilman LaMont Cole to lead Baton Rouge schools
Gymnast Levi Jung-Ruivivar Suffers Severe Allergic Reaction in Olympic Village
Man can't find second winning lottery ticket, sues over $394 million jackpot, lawsuit says
Airline catering workers threaten to strike as soon as next week without agreement on new contract
Water Polo's official hype man Flavor Flav wants to see women win fourth gold
Celine Dion makes musical comeback at Paris Olympics with Eiffel Tower serenade