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West Fargo, Minnesota, 18-year-old Sam Dutcher recently experienced a terrifying situation when his 2022 Honda Pilot malfunctioned, accelerating uncontrollably despite his efforts to stop it. The teen called 911, explaining that he’d tried everything, including turning the vehicle off, but the SUV continued to speed up. Law enforcement responded quickly and Clay County deputy Zach Johnson stayed on the phone with Dutcher trying to help troubleshoot while the vehicle sped through northern Minnesota.
As the SUV reached speeds of 113 mph, Minnesota State Trooper Zach Gruver joined the pursuit and decided to take action before the out-of-control vehicle reached a dead-end ahead. He positioned his vehicle in front of Dutcher’s SUV, instructing the teen to collide with his squad car. The trooper then applied his brakes, successfully bringing both vehicles to a stop without any injuries.
Minnesota State Patrol spokesman Sergeant Jesse Grabow praised the efforts of everyone involved, highlighting the calmness of Dutcher, the dispatchers, and the responding officers. Trooper Gruver humbly downplayed his role, crediting the power of his police cruiser for the successful outcome. Grabow stressed how lucky it was that a few key things went right in the dangerous situation, ultimately preventing a tragedy.
Source: KARE 11