BECKER COUNTY, Minn. — An 18-year-old from West Fargo is alive, with a WILD story to tell, thanks to a Minnesota State Trooper and other law enforcement personnel who stepped in when he needed them most.
Minnesota State Patrol spokesman Sgt. Jesse Grabow says the saga unfolded on Tuesday, Sept. 17 when 18-year-old Sam Dutcher was driving in the Fargo area when his 2022 Honda Pilot malfunctioned and refused to stop. Dutcher called 911, telling dispatchers the SUV was continuing to accelerate despite his trying to turn it off, put the transmission in neutral, and slow it with both the braking system and the emergency brake.
Grabow tells KARE 11 that a deputy from Cass County, ND, responded but the teen's Honda continued on its path, speeding into northern Clay County, Minnesota. Clay County deputy Zach Johnson joined the effort, talking with Sam on the phone and trying to troubleshoot as the SUV tore eastbound on a county road doing between 80 and 90 miles per hour.
It was at this point that Minnesota State Trooper Zach Gruver responded, catching up with Dutcher's vehicle while noticing it was now rolling down the road at 113 mph. The trooper sped ahead of the SUV with lights and sirens activated as they ripped through the tiny town of Hitterdal, hoping no residents or vehicles would be in their way.
"My mind started to go, 'I am going to die tonight,'" the teen later told the Fargo Inforum.
In front of the speeding car was the Becker County line, and Trooper Gruver knew there wasn't much time, as the road would soon come to a T and the teen driver would most certainly crash. The trooper once again sped in front of Dutcher, and communicating with Deputy Johnson, told the teen to run into the back of his squad. Gruver paced the approaching SUV was struck, and firmly applied his brakes until both vehicles came to a stop.
Somehow, no one was injured.
Patrol spokesman Grabow didn't mince words in his email to KARE 11, citing the "incredible" work by 911 dispatchers, both responding deputies, Trooper Gruver and young Sam Dutcher himself, lauding the 18-year-old for staying calm, communicating with a clear head and following detailed directions.
"For everything that was going wrong, a few important things went right," Grabow wrote. "Without the sacrifice of Trooper Gruver, we might not have had the victory and outcome we did."
During a meet-up with Sam and his mom a few days later, trooper Gruver downplayed his role, telling The Inforum that having a fast car - the Dodge Charger Interceptor instead of the conventional State Patrol SUV - made the difference.
"I don't think I did anything special. I think it came down to that I had the fastest car and I was able to get in front of him," Gruver said.
"There were a lot of factors in there where things could have gone very wrong very fast," he said.