US Senator Kevin Cramer’s Son Involved in Fatal Crash During Police Pursuit

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In a tragic incident, the 42-year-old son of U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer found himself in a police pursuit that ended in a devastating crash, resulting in the loss of a North Dakota sheriff’s deputy’s life. According to authorities and statements from the senator’s family, Ian Cramer, a resident of Bismarck, was behind the wheel when the incident occurred.

The sequence of events began when Ian Cramer’s mother drove him to a hospital around 4:30 p.m. on a Wednesday due to concerns about his mental health, as reported by Bismarck police. However, a startling turn of events unfolded when, upon arriving at the hospital’s emergency department, Ian Cramer took control of the family SUV and forcefully drove it through a door, escaping the enclosed ambulance bay.

Over an hour later, in a neighboring area of Mercer County, Ian Cramer was spotted in a Chevrolet Tahoe in Hazen, located approximately 70 miles northwest of Bismarck. The North Dakota Highway Patrol initiated a pursuit, which ultimately culminated in a collision between the SUV and a Mercer County sheriff’s vehicle parked along a state highway.

Tragically, a deputy was positioned behind the parked vehicle, preparing to deploy a tire deflation device to halt the chase. The impact of the collision propelled the parked vehicle into the deputy, leading to his untimely demise. The fallen officer has been identified as 53-year-old Paul Martin.

Following the incident, Ian Cramer was taken to a hospital for evaluation and subsequently taken into custody. The North Dakota Highway Patrol has indicated that charges are pending in this case.

U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer issued a statement, requesting public prayers for the grieving officer’s family and colleagues, acknowledging their dedicated service. The senator also shared that his son Ian grapples with severe mental disorders characterized by intense paranoia and hallucinations. Earlier on the same day, Ian Cramer expressed a desire to “go to his brother Ike,” who passed away in 2018, though the statement does not provide further clarification on this matter.

Concerns escalated when Kris Cramer, the senator’s wife, brought Ian to the Sanford Health emergency room in Bismarck. While parked in the ambulance bay, Ian took control of the vehicle, allegedly ramming the bay doors before fleeing the scene, as reported by Bismarck police.

The senator’s daughter played a crucial role in tracking the SUV’s location via a cellphone and alerting authorities. When a Mercer County deputy located Ian Cramer in Hazen and approached him, Cramer attempted to evade capture. The fatal crash occurred minutes later on North Dakota Highway 200, a short distance outside Hazen.

Paul Martin, the deputy who lost his life in the line of duty, had served for 18 years in the sheriff’s office. He leaves behind a family, including a spouse and three children.

In a poignant message on the sheriff’s office Facebook page, Mercer County Sheriff Terry Ternes referred to Martin as a cherished member of law enforcement, a husband, father, and grandfather. The law enforcement community mourns his loss deeply.

North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum has directed government agencies to lower flags to half-staff in honor of Deputy Paul Martin until his interment, encouraging residents to do the same.

The main entrance of the Bismarck hospital sustained damage to its emergency department vehicle and ambulance garage. Sanford Health Bismarck confirmed that a temporary entrance has been established, and fortunately, no injuries were reported in this incident.

Kevin Cramer, who was elected to the Senate in 2018 after three terms in the House, shares his family with his wife, including one other son, two daughters, and six grandchildren, as detailed in his Senate biography.

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