18-year-old Sam Dutcher told the Associated Press that his Honda Pilot suddenly began accelerating on its own while he had not touched the gas pedal.
Dutcher graduated from high school in May and is currently studying automotive mechanics. It was around 7:30 p.m. on September 17 when he was driving back to his home in West Fargo, North Dakota, when he realized there was a problem.
At that moment, the brakes were not working, he couldn’t shift into neutral, and in no time, the out-of-control SUV raced into the western countryside of Minnesota, unable to come to a stop.
“I pushed the brakes all the way.” Dutcher recalled on Thursday, “but the SUV just kept going faster, eventually reaching 120 miles per hour (193 kilometers per hour).”
Fortunately, a police officer driving his Dodge Charger caught up to him and “cleverly” collided with him, effectively helping him safely decelerate the “wild horse” of a car before reaching a dangerous intersection and bringing it to a stop.
“That was the only way I could think of to get it to stop in time.” Minnesota State Trooper Zach Gruver said, emphasizing that at that point there was no room for turning back in terms of time and distance, “I really didn’t know what other options there were.”
As the SUV accelerated, considering that traffic might be smoother, Dutcher chose a road with less traffic flow.
Dutcher tried to use voice commands on his phone to dial 911, but it was unsuccessful, so he called his mother, Catherine Dutcher. Catherine informed 911 that the Honda had recently been in the repair shop due to a stuck throttle. Authorities suspected a malfunction in the SUV’s computer system.
A Honda spokesperson told the Associated Press that families should take their vehicles to the dealership for inspection. She stated that the company could not comment further until the inspection was completed.
As the Honda SUV thundered down the roads of Minnesota, Clay County Deputy Sheriff Zach Johnson contacted Dutcher by phone. Dashcam footage shows Johnson discussing possible solutions with Dutcher, but none of them worked.
Meanwhile, Catherine was consumed with worry. When she called 911 to inquire about the latest updates, she broke down.
“They said several officers and medical personnel are on their way to him.” She recollected, “at that moment, I was a bit out of control because I imagined he was either critically injured or dead.”
“With the car speeding at that rate, I didn’t know how they could make it stop.”
Gruver heard about the situation via radio. His Dodge Charger eventually caught up with the Honda SUV as it approached Hitterdal, Minnesota, approximately 30 miles (48 kilometers) from where the issue started. The Dodge Charger is known as the world’s fastest and most powerful American muscle car.
Hitterdal is home to only around 200 residents, but the area the highway traverses includes several parking signs, a railway crossing, and an intersection with another highway.
Footage from Gruver’s dashcam shows him leading the way, with the Honda quickly overtaking from his side.
Soon, another concern surfaced. Johnson warned Gruver that the end of the highway was about four miles (6.4 kilometers) away at a T-intersection – a two-minute drive at racing speeds.
Law enforcement immediately devised a plan: have Dutcher’s car collide with the rear of Gruver’s patrol car.
“Yes, hit the back of the car.” Johnson urged Dutcher in the dashcam video.
Gruver explained that the 2022 Honda SUV would activate its collision mitigation system upon impact, aiding in reducing the collision severity. When the Honda collided with the Dodge, the speed was about 50 miles per hour (80 kilometers per hour). From that point on, Gruver was able to gradually guide the Honda to a stop.
Gruver, 30, is about to become a father, welcoming his first child into the world. Although he can say he saved Dutcher’s life, he mentioned that it was truly impressive to see the young Dutcher handle an out-of-control vehicle at unimaginable speeds.
“Sam did a great job.” Gruver, a veteran officer of over three years, said, “I don’t think many people could handle that kind of pressure.”