Man Gets 14 Years for Vehicular Manslaughter

An ex-convict who led police on a drunken high-speed chase that resulted in the death of a retired aerospace engineer was ordered Tuesday to serve 14 years in state prison.

The sentence was the maximum allowed under California law, but provided little comfort to the victim’s family.

Bill Kremper, 69, of Simi Valley, was killed June 17 when a car driven by Luis Acuna Estrada struck him from behind. Estrada was fleeing police at speeds exceeding 100 mph.

“He should have gotten more,” cried widow Geri Kremper in the courthouse hallway after the hearing.

Estrada, 38, who used the alias Luis Espinosa Rodriguez, pleaded guilty last month to vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, auto theft and willful flight from an officer that resulted in death.

The guilty plea earned Estrada no leniency from Ventura County Superior Court Judge Edward F. Brodie.

A former CHP officer, Brodie recalled similar incidents he investigated before becoming a judge and told the victim’s family that such crimes are among the most painful because they are so senseless.

Turning to Estrada, whom authorities described as a transient, Brodie cited a lengthy criminal record including three prior prison sentences for auto theft and burglary. An illegal immigrant, Estrada was deported to Mexico after each prison term and returned to commit more crimes.