Trooper says, ‘Crash into me’
Legion to honor quick-thinking officer of the law
MOORHEAD — Have you ever seen the Keanu Reeves movie “Speed”? This story is like that.
Zachary Gruver, a Minnesota state trooper out of the Moorhead office, is the American Legion Department of Minnesota Outstanding Law Enforcement Officer for 2025. His actions saved a young man’s life.
Sam Dutcher was driving a 2022 Honda Pilot near Harwood, N.D., on Sept. 17, 2024, when it began accelerating out of control.
According to multiple news reports, the 18-year-old tried pressing on the brake pedal. He tried undoing the accelerator. Nothing he did would get the midsize SUV to stop or slow down. Dutcher called his mother. She was afraid her son was going to die and called 911.
Dispatchers reached Dutcher, and they discussed other options, like putting the vehicle in neutral. Nothing worked.
Clay County Deputy Zach Johnson was speaking to Dutcher when the Pilot picked up even more speed. The computer system had taken over. They tried stop sticks to pop his tires, and that didn’t work.
With police cars following him, Dutcher would cross through busy intersections and enter Minnesota on Clay County Road 26 heading east. News reports say he was reaching 113 mph as he sped toward Hitterdal. The problem was that about 3 miles east of Hitterdal, the county road ends and gravel begins. After 1 more mile, the gravel turns north, and going straight at high speed was no longer an option.
Trooper Gruver took action before the pavement ran out. He sped past Dutcher at 130 mph while Deputy Johnson spoke with Dutcher on the phone. Johnson told Gruver to crash into the back of the State Patrol car.
When the two vehicles collided, the Honda’s computer detected a crash and slowed it down. Dutcher’s brakes worked once again.
The officers and Dutcher received praise, for their actions under pressure, from people across the country and spoke with ABC’s “Good Morning America” in October 2024.
Gruver said if he did anything differently, it would have been to attempt the crash to stop the Honda before speeding through Hitterdal, which has a busy railroad through it.
On top of it all, Gruver and his wife were weeks away from the birth of their first child.
Moorhead American Legion Post 21 Commander Paul Leeman nominated Gruver for the Outstanding Officer honor. Gruver has been a trooper for five years. He is a graduate of Moorhead High School.
He previously worked as a police officer in Glyndon and Moorhead before becoming a state trooper. He volunteers with youth events held by the Moorhead Police Activities League, such as Shop with a Cop or hockey games.
Gruver will receive the American Legion honor at the Department Convention in July.