Teen Thought He Was 'Going to Die' When Car Got Stuck on Autopilot at 113 MPH. Then a Trooper Saved His Life

Mar. 15, 2025

Minnesota trooper passing 18-year-old Sam Dutcher after the Honda Pilot he was driving began to accelerate over 100 miles per hour in western Minnesota on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024.Photo:Minnesota State Patrol via AP

Minnesota State Patrol via AP

An 18-year-old was trapped in a runaway car that took him across state lines from North Dakota to Minnesota, Clay County Sheriff Mark Empting and Minnesota State Patrol Sgt. Jesse Grabow tell PEOPLE.

Teen Sam Dutcher was driving his 2022 Honda Pilot in Fargo, N.D., on Sept. 17 when the vehicle malfunctioned and could not stop.

Dutcher, 18, repeatedly tried to turn off the car, but it continued to accelerate, reaching a speed of 113 MPH and taking the teen from Cass County, N.D., into Clay County, Minn.

Clay County Sheriff’s Deputy Zach Johnson then spoke with Dutcher, and “was the calming, soothing voice for Sam,” says Empting.

“I don’t think this is going to stop. I’m going to hit the end of the road and I’m going to die,” Dutcher recalled toGMA.The show identified the vehicle as a 2022 Honda Pilot.

Johnson advised him to put the car in neutral, brake, or pull the emergency brake, but the car continued to drive. Minnesota State Trooper Zach Gruver also responded and caught up with Dutcher on the road.

“Over the radio, it was there that he was doing 80 to 90 miles an hour. And when I caught up to him, I hit my radar and he was at 113,” Gruver toldGMA.

Trooper Zach Gruver.WDAY/YouTube

WDAY/YouTube

Then, Gruver went ahead of the vehicle to try to put stop sticks, a row of spikes used to puncture tires, on the road, says Empting. However, he was unable to do so. Gruver then alerted people in Hitterdal, Minn. After Sam’s car went through the town, “Gruver once again had to catch and pass the vehicle as time and distance were running out as they entered Becker County,” per MSP, adding that two to three miles away, there was a dead end.

“It was kind of just, get in front of them and try to get him stopped,” Gruver toldGMA.

Johnson advised Dutcher to hit the back of Gruver’s car. Gruver then paced Dutcher’s car, which hit Gruver from behind. “Trooper Gruver applied his brakes and brought the vehicle to a stop,” says MSP.

Empting confirms with PEOPLE that Dutcher’s car was returned to the local Honda dealership and is now in storage, perGMA.

On Oct. 3, Dutcher and Catherine met with Gruver. “It was incredible to get a chance to meet the officer that saved my son. And to think about him risking his life to save my son was just, it was amazing,” Catherine toldGMA.

“It was definitely a big relief,” Gruver said. “If we wouldn’t have been able to get it stopped, I don’t think Sam would be here to talk about it.”

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The Cass County Sheriff’s Office and Honda did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for more information on Friday.

source: people.com