A North Dakota sheriff’s deputy died in a crash after a police chase involving the 42-year-old son of U.S. Sen. Kevin Cramer, who was charged Thursday with manslaughter and fleeing an officer, court documents said. Ian Cramer, of Bismarck, hit Deputy Paul Martin’s squad car head-on on Wednesday, while driving over 100 mph with two flat tires.

The impact pushed the squad car “directly into Martin’s person and launching him for about 100 feet,” the charging documents said. Martin, 53, was killed. He had just placed a tire deflation device on the road and was hiding behind his squad car. Ian Cramer will appear in court Friday on several felony charges including manslaughter, fleeing a police officer and reckless endangerment.

He did not have a lawyer listed in court records, and Sen. Kevin Cramer did not agree to an interview after the charges were filed, out of respect for Martin’s family. Cramer said in a statement earlier Thursday: “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.” Bismarck police said Ian Cramer’s mother took him to Sanford Health emergency room in Bismarck around 4:30 p.m.

Wednesday because of his mental health. He took the wheel of the SUV when she got out and smashed through a door to escape from a closed ambulance bay at the hospital’s emergency department. One of Sen. Kevin Cramer’s daughters followed the SUV with a cellphone and informed authorities.

A deputy in Mercer County saw Cramer and the Chevrolet Tahoe in Hazen, a town about 70 miles (113 kilometers) northwest of Bismarck, over an hour later. The North Dakota Highway Patrol said in a news release that a chase started then. Cramer did not stop despite initial attempts.

Charging documents say an officer from Beulah nearby had used a tire deflation device, which deflated two of Cramer’s tires, but he drove on North Dakota Highway 200. Beulah Chief of Police Frank Senn and Martin put more deflation devices on the road and hid behind their cars about 5 miles outside of Hazen. Cramer hit Martin’s vehicle after swerving. Cramer tried to run away after the crash.

Senn caught him on the ground and got hurt as Cramer fought back, according to court documents. Martin was dead when he got to a hospital. Cramer was checked at a hospital then put in jail. Ian Cramer’s father, a Republican senator in his first term, wrote that his son “suffers from serious mental disorders which manifest in severe paranoia and hallucinations.” Ian Cramer had said he wanted to “go to his brother Ike,” who died in 2018, on Wednesday, according to the senator’s statement, which does not say more about what that means. Kris Cramer was worried and took her son to the ER.

Ian Cramer was charged with misdemeanor simple assault in 2013 for allegedly hurting his brother’s head; he said he was guilty. He also had a 2010 citation for driving under the influence in Arizona, and many traffic citations in this year and last year, including one the day before the crash, for driving with a suspended license.

Martin was an 18-year veteran of the sheriff’s office, which said he was married and had three children.

In a post to the sheriff’s office Facebook page, Mercer County Sheriff Terry Ternes said Martin “is our beloved brother in law enforcement, a husband, father, and grandpa. Our wound is raw, and our hearts are broken.”

Whitney Zeadow, 36, who lives near Hazen, said Martin was once her neighbor; she sometimes cared for the retired police dogs he kept when he was away from home.

“He was just a fantastic man,” Zeadow said, fighting back tears. “He was the type that would be your champion. He was just there to support the community, help the kids. Any little thing. He was just a joy to be around.”

Kevin Cramer was elected to the Senate in 2018 after serving three terms in the House. He has been a staunch advocate for law enforcement. He also has co-sponsored legislation to address shortages of mental health providers in schools and expand mental health care services for military families and veterans. Critics, however, say he has backed cuts that would put those with mental illness at risk of losing coverage.

In his statement Wednesday, Cramer said that his family grieves with “the family of the hero who tried to help Ian.”

The Cramer family has endured tragedy before.

Isaac “Ike” Cramer in 2007 began dating a woman who was the mother of an infant, Abel. Three years later, the woman was killed by her estranged husband. Kevin and Kris Cramer adopted the child, who is now a teenager. Cramer also has two daughters and six grandchildren, according to his Senate website.

In 2018, soon after Kevin Cramer announced his run for the Senate, Ike Cramer died from liver and kidney failure following a long battle with alcohol addiction. He was 35.

After Martin’s death, some who posted on the sheriff’s department’s Facebook page said the deputy had taken them to jail. They described him as a friendly person and said he was always respectful.

Cody Schank said he wound up in jail himself but still praised Martin.

In a private message sent to The Associated Press, Schank wrote: “Paul will be missed deeply and by many, it’s a terrible situation, and very sad it had to happen to such a kind hearted soul such as his.”