The son of North Dakota Senator Kevin Cramer is heading to prison after a tragic car chase led to the death of a sheriff’s deputy. Ian Cramer, 43, was sentenced to 28 years in prison for causing the death of Deputy Paul Martin during a high-speed chase that spanned multiple counties.
The heartbreaking incident happened on December 6, 2023. It all started when Ian, who was at a hospital in Bismarck, North Dakota, fled the facility in his mother’s Chevrolet Tahoe. He reversed through a closed garage door at the hospital’s ambulance bay and sped off, hitting 100 miles per hour at times. The chase ended 70 miles away in Hazen, Mercer County, when Ian swerved to avoid police-deployed speed spikes and crashed head-on into Deputy Martin’s squad car, killing him.
In court on Monday, Ian addressed Deputy Martin’s family, saying, “I had no intention to do any of this. I just hope that someday they can forgive me.” Ian claimed the crash was an accident brought on by mental health struggles worsened by methamphetamine and bath salts. He expressed hope that he could one day receive more help for his mental health issues.
The court heard how Ian’s actions that day began with alarming behavior at home, prompting his mother to take him to the hospital. Once there, he took off in her vehicle, leading to the tragic series of events. His mother, Kris Cramer, shared her sorrow in court, saying, “I really do feel responsible for what happened.”
Deputy Martin, a member of the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office, lost his life in the crash. Judge Bobbi Weiler sentenced Ian to 38 years in prison, with 10 years suspended and an additional three years of probation. However, the judge acknowledged that Ian may serve much less time due to prison policies, which allow for parole in certain cases. “These are not mandatory minimums,” Judge Weiler explained, adding that Ian might only serve a portion of his sentence, giving him a chance at a fresh start—something Deputy Martin’s family will never have.
Senator Kevin Cramer, who was reelected to a second term in November, has been open about his son’s struggles with mental health. Ian has been diagnosed with serious mental disorders, which his father said manifest in severe paranoia and hallucinations. After the sentencing, the senator expressed disappointment, saying, “I don’t think there’s any question there’s not one person, including Ian, who doesn’t know that they were his choices that led to this.”
Mercer County State’s Attorney Todd Schwarz and Ian’s defense attorney both pointed to the long-term damage Ian had done to his own brain through drug use. “He has hurt his brain a lot on his own,” Ian’s mother said tearfully.
This tragic case sheds light on the devastating impact of substance abuse and mental health struggles, not just on individuals but on the families and communities around them. While Ian faces time in prison, Deputy Martin’s family must live with an irreplaceable loss.
