US Senator’s son jailed 28 years for deadly car chase

43-year-old son of Senator Kevin Cramer, Republican of North Dakota, was at the center of a high-speed highway pursuit that tragically resulted in the death of a sheriff’s deputy.

Ian Cramer, the 43-year-old son of Senator Kevin Cramer, Republican of North Dakota, was sentenced on Monday to 28 years in prison following a high-speed chase that ended in a crash and the tragic death of a sheriff’s deputy. The incident occurred in December 2023 and has drawn national attention due to its devastating consequences and the mental health crisis that precipitated it.

The chase began on December 6, 2023, when Ian Cramer fled from a hospital in Bismarck, N.D., where his mother had taken him for treatment of what authorities later described as a severe mental health crisis. After speeding away in the family’s vehicle, he was located roughly 70 miles away in Hazen, N.D., by law enforcement. The pursuit ended violently after Mr. Cramer crashed into an unoccupied patrol car parked on the side of a highway. The impact fatally struck Mercer County Sheriff’s Deputy Paul Martin, 53, who was standing nearby preparing to deploy tire deflation devices. Deputy Martin, a respected member of the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office for 18 years, was pronounced dead at the scene.

In September, Mr. Cramer pleaded guilty to all nine charges against him, including homicide while fleeing a peace officer, reckless endangerment, and multiple drug- and driving-related offenses. During sentencing, Judge Bobbi Weiler of the South Central Judicial District of North Dakota addressed Mr. Cramer directly, emphasizing that he had significant resources available to seek help. “You had more support than 99 percent of the people I’ve seen,” She sentenced Mr. Cramer to 38 years, with 10 years suspended, and credited him for the time already served. He will also serve three years of probation following his release. It is likely that Mr. Cramer may not serve the full 28 years due to the absence of mandatory minimum sentences for the charges and the North Dakota Department of Corrections’ policies on sentence reduction.

At the sentencing, Ian Cramer expressed remorse, addressing the family of Deputy Martin. “I had no intention to do any of this. It was an accident, and I just hope that someday they can forgive me,” he said. He also acknowledged his need for further treatment, stating, “I think the best thing for me is to go to a hospital and get more help.” His mother, Kris Cramer, also spoke at the hearing, offering a heartfelt apology and acknowledging her son’s long-standing struggles with mental illness. “I really do feel responsible for what happened,” she said, referring to the events that led to her son’s flight from the hospital.

Senator Kevin Cramer, who has publicly addressed his son’s mental health issues in the past, did not respond to requests for comment. In a 2023 statement following Ian’s arrest, the senator described his son’s mental health challenges as “serious mental disorders which manifest in severe paranoia and hallucinations.” The senator detailed how his wife, Kris, had driven Ian to the hospital for treatment on the day of the incident. After arriving, Ian fled in the family’s vehicle, leaving his mother’s phone behind. Authorities tracked the vehicle using the phone’s location.

Deputy Paul Martin, who lost his life in the collision, was honored for his nearly two decades of service to Mercer County. The North Dakota State Highway Patrol reported that he was struck while working to stop Mr. Cramer’s vehicle using tire deflation devices. Judge Weiler acknowledged Mr. Cramer’s ongoing struggles with addiction and mental health during sentencing and recommended treatment as part of his incarceration. For Deputy Martin’s family and the Mercer County community, however, the loss remains a painful reminder of the risks law enforcement officers face daily.