Ian Cramer, the 42-year-old son of U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer from North Dakota, has been charged with manslaughter and additional felonies following a car chase that led to the death of a sheriff’s deputy. The incident occurred on Wednesday, December 5, 2023, in North Dakota.
The sequence of events began when Kris Cramer, the senator’s wife, drove Ian to an emergency room in Bismarck, North Dakota, due to his severe mental health crisis. Ian, who suffers from serious mental disorders resulting in paranoia and hallucinations, jumped into the driver’s seat when his mother got out of the car and sped off in the vehicle, ramming the car through a door to get out of an enclosed ambulance bay. His abrupt departure caused alarm and prompted a police pursuit.
The 100 mph chase, which spanned about five miles, ended near Hazen, North Dakota, about 70 miles from the state capital, when Cramer crashed his black 2017 Chevrolet SUV into an unoccupied sheriff’s patrol car parked along the highway. The impact fatally injured Deputy Paul Martin, a dedicated officer who had served with the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office for 18 years, who had taken cover near the vehicle.
Deputy Martin had just completed deploying a tire deflation device to halt the fleeing vehicle when he was struck. The force of the collision launched him around 100 feet, resulting in his death.
Ian Cramer was arrested and taken into custody. He is facing charges of manslaughter, fleeing the police, resisting arrest, and reckless endangerment. These charges stem not only from the fatal chase but also from his initial escape from the hospital.
Senator Kevin Cramer, in a statement, expressed deep sorrow over the incident, highlighting his son’s mental health struggles. He conveyed his family’s grief and the profound impact of this event on all involved, especially the family of Deputy Martin.
Sheriff Terry Ternes of Mercer County publicly mourned the loss of Deputy Martin, describing the collective grief experienced by the law enforcement community and Martin’s family.