According to a statement released by North Dakota Senator Kevin Cramer, his son Ian Cramer, 42, was involved in a police chase on Wednesday evening that tragically ended with a crash that killed a deputy. Senator Cramer expressed deep sorrow and explained that Ian suffers from serious mental disorders, including severe paranoia and hallucinations.

In his statement, Senator Cramer revealed that his wife, Kris, was with Ian when he insisted on going to visit his late brother Ike, who passed away in 2018. Concerned for Ian's well-being, Kris took him to the Sanford Health emergency room in Bismarck. However, upon arriving at the hospital, Ian jumped into the driver's seat and fled.

Fortunately, the Cramer family had a way to track Ian's location through Kris' cell phone, and their daughter was able to lead officers to him in Mercer County, North Dakota. The North Dakota Highway Patrol received a report of a stolen vehicle, specifically a 2017 Black Chevy Tahoe driven by Ian Cramer. Deputies from the Mercer County Sheriff's Office spotted the Tahoe in Hazen and approached the vehicle, but Ian fled, initiating the police chase.

It was during the pursuit that tragedy struck. The vehicle Ian was driving crashed head-on into an unoccupied Mercer County Sheriff's Office patrol vehicle, which was parked on a roadside approach with its emergency lights activated. Tragically, a Mercer County Deputy, who had been standing outside and behind the patrol vehicle, was hit by the impact of the crash and lost his life. The deputy had been preparing to deploy a tire deflation device in an attempt to stop the pursuit.

Following the crash, Ian Cramer was taken into custody and first brought to a medical center in Hazen before being transferred to the McLean County Detention Center in Stanton. The investigation into the crash is still ongoing, and charges against Ian Cramer are pending.

Senator Cramer expressed his grief and promised to fly to be with his family during this difficult time. He also extended his condolences to the family of the fallen deputy and asked for prayers for healing for his son.

This tragic incident has left the community in mourning and has raised important questions about mental health and its impact on individuals and their families. As the investigation continues, authorities will work to provide more information to the public.