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 series of events unfolded when Kris Cramer, Senator Cramer’s wife, drove Ian to a Bismarck, North Dakota, emergency room due to a severe mental health episode. Experiencing a significant mental crisis, Ian took control of the car when his mother stepped out, smashing through an ambulance bay door, prompting a police chase.
The chase, reaching speeds up to 100 mph, extended over five miles, ending near Hazen, North Dakota. Ian, driving a black 2017 Chevrolet SUV, crashed into a sheriff’s patrol car parked off the highway. Deputy Paul Martin, 53, who was near the vehicle after setting up a tire deflation device, was fatally injured.
Deputy Martin, a dedicated officer with 18 years of service, was thrown approximately 100 feet by the impact, leading to his death.
Ian Cramer was arrested and now faces several charges including manslaughter, fleeing law enforcement, resisting arrest, and reckless endangerment, linked to both the chase and his escape from the hospital entrance.
Senator Kevin Cramer expressed profound sadness over the tragedy, emphasizing his son’s mental health struggles and the devastation felt by all, especially Deputy Martin’s family.
Mercer County Sheriff Terry Ternes publicly grieved Deputy Martin’s loss, underscoring the shared sorrow of the law enforcement community and Martin’s family.
