CLAY COUNTY, Minn. — So, here’s the question. What would you do?
Following the incredible story of how the Minnesota State Patrol and Clay County deputies were able to stop Sam Dutcher’s defective car, which spun out of control and reached speeds of 113 mph, many… People reached out and made comments.
Jesse Skalicky of Skalicky’s Auto Repair in Fargo knows cars. And how they have changed over the years.
“This is where we handle all the push button stuff. All the electronics, actuators and sensors that communicate with the computer,” Skalicki said. That’s when you compare it to older cars. “Normal keys. Normal shifter. No push buttons.”
Following Monday’s dramatic story about Dutcher’s defective runaway Honda pilot, so many people are left wondering what could, will, or should happen. I held
“We have an emergency brake, so we just put it in neutral and the car should stop. It should stop,” Skallicki said.
During the Sept. 17 car crash, Clay County Deputy Zach Johnson asked Sam if he could press the electronic brake and lock him up.
From gear options to starting and stopping. It didn’t matter what Dutcher pushed, nothing would stop his car from spinning out of control.
“It’s great when it’s working perfectly…but in this case, the computer had a mind of its own,” Skaliky said.
In fact, Red River Regional Dispatch has a “go-to” guide for dispatchers. Red River Regional Dispatch Director Amanda Glaceau said areas such as the difference between standard key-operated vehicles and vehicles with a start-stop button are covered.
“They (dispatchers) can be a lifeline for the people on the other end of the phone,” Glaceau said.
People across the region are still talking about the fact that Dutcher and law enforcement officers escaped unscathed from the Sept. 17 incident.
Dutcher’s Honda Pilot is still being held by experts trying to figure out how its computer was hijacked and took so many people on a dangerous and terrifying journey that ultimately ended in a planned crash. It’s being investigated.
In a statement released Tuesday, Oct. 1, Honda said, “We are grateful that our customer is safe and appreciate the role of law enforcement in assisting with stopping the vehicle. “I cannot speculate about the problems experienced.” 1.
The company said in a release that it will contact the Dutcher family.
