Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-ND) said his 42-year-old son was involved in a police chase on Wednesday that came to a tragic end, resulting in the death of a sheriff’s deputy.
A Mercer County, North Dakota, Sheriff’s deputy was killed as police engaged in a pursuit of Ian Cramer after the senator’s son reportedly took off with his mother’s car. Ian — who “suffers from severe mental disorders which manifest in severe paranoia and hallucinations,” according to the senator — was taken to the emergency room by Cramer’s wife, Kris, after he told her he wanted to go see his brother who died five years ago. When Kris got out of the car at the hospital, Ian jumped into the driver’s seat and sped off, the senator said in a statement, KFYR reported.
“Our daughter was able to track the car through Kris’ cell phone and lead officers to him in Mercer County, ND,” Cramer said in a statement. “We don’t have more details right now but will work with authorities to properly inform the public.”
The Mercer County Sheriff’s Department initially located Ian and the stolen SUV in Hazen, North Dakota, where officers approached him, but the 42-year-old fled, according to authorities. As police pursued him, a Mercer County Sheriff’s deputy stood alongside the road next to a parked patrol car, preparing to deploy a spike strip to deflate the tires of the vehicle Ian was driving. The SUV, however, veered off the road and rammed into the parked patrol car head-on. The crash pushed the patrol car back into the deputy standing on the side of the road, killing him, KFYR reported.
Ian was rushed to the hospital following the crash before being taken to the Mercer County Jail. No charges have been filed yet as the North Dakota Highway Patrol investigates the incident. Sen. Cramer said he and his family are grieving for their son and the deputy’s family and asked the public for their prayers.
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“I will take the first flight I can to be with our family as we grieve what has happened,” Cramer added. “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.”