Update: Son of Sen. Kevin Cramer charged with manslaughter in crash that killed a Mercer County deputy

Update: Son of Sen. Kevin Cramer charged with manslaughter in crash that killed a Mercer County deputy

Deputy Paul Martin Deputy Paul Martin

BISMARCK, N.D. (KVRR) – A son of North Dakota U.S. Sen. Kevin Cramer has been charged with manslaughter in connection with a crash that resulted in the death of Mercer County Deputy Paul Martin.

Forty-two-year-old Ian Cramer is scheduled to make his initial court appearance on Friday. He was charged with felony counts of manslaughter, fleeing a police officer and reckless endangerment, as well as a misdemeanor count of driving with a suspended license.

The North Dakota Highway Patrol says Bismarck police received a report of a stolen vehicle, a 2017 Black Chevrolet Tahoe driven by Cramer.

The Mercer County Sheriff’s Office located Cramer in Hazen. When law enforcement approached Cramer, he fled in the vehicle.

During the pursuit, Cramer crashed head-on into an unoccupied Mercer County Sheriff’s Office patrol vehicle that was parked on a roadside approach. The patrol vehicle was displaying its emergency lights at the time.

Investigators say Martin was standing behind the patrol vehicle when it was struck. The impact of the crash pushed the patrol vehicle into Martin, killing him.

The crash happened five miles west of Hazen on Highway 200 at 5:35 p.m.

The 53-year-old Martin was from Beulah. He is survived by his wife and three children.

Cramer was transported to the Sakakawea Medical Center in Hazen and taken to the McLean County Detention Center in Washburn.

The crash remains under investigation by the North Dakota Highway Patrol.

Sen. Cramer issued a statement following the crash:

“Earlier this evening, our 42-year-old son Ian was involved in a police chase which resulted in an accident that killed an officer. Ian suffers from serious mental disorders which manifest in severe paranoia and hallucinations. Kris was with Ian when he insisted on going to his brother Ike. Ike died in 2018. Kris took Ian to the Sanford Health emergency room in Bismarck. When she got out of our vehicle, Ian jumped into the driver’s seat and fled. Our daughter was able to track the car through Kris’ cell phone and lead officers to him in Mercer County, ND. We don’t have more details right now but will work with authorities to properly inform the public.

I will take the first flight I can to be with our family as we grieve what has happened. We grieve especially for the family of the hero who tried to help Ian, and we pray for our gracious God to show up as He always does in tragedy. We ask the public for prayers for the lost officer’s family and colleagues who serve us every day and are grateful for all they do for us.

We also ask God for healing for Ian. We love him and hurt deeply.”