Man Fleeing Police Hits Car, Killing Driver

Bill Kremper rarely drove. The 69-year-old retired aerospace mechanic much preferred to walk around the neighborhood, to the grocery store, everywhere. Up to 50 miles a week.

Practically the only time the man known as Honest Bill to friends and family got out his Mustang convertible was for his twice-weekly trips to the off-track betting parlor at the Ventura County Fairgrounds.

He was returning from one of those trips Thursday when his car was struck from behind by a car driven by a man allegedly fleeing police at speeds up to 100 mph. Kremper died in the accident.

“He was a hell of a role model if you wanted to live a good life,” said Steve Mentzer, Kremper’s 28-year-old grandson. Mentzer was one of several relatives who gathered at the family’s Simi Valley home Friday to mourn and remember Honest Bill.

Meanwhile, the alleged driver of the fleeing car was being held on $1-million bail. Authorities identified him as Luis Espinoza Rodriguez, a 37-year-old homeless man who told police he has been living on the streets of Thousand Oaks. He is being held on suspicion of car theft and vehicular manslaughter, authorities said.

Sheriff’s deputies say Rodriguez stole a 1968 Pontiac GTO and drunkenly tried to evade police as they pursued him through Thousand Oaks. The pursuit began on northbound Highway 23 and continued east on Tierra Rejada Road toward Simi Valley. Simi Valley Police Sgt. Bob Gardner said Kremper was driving east on Tierra Rejada when his car was hit from behind.

Kremper’s car went out of control, hit a bicyclist and flipped over, authorities said. The bicyclist, 58-year-old Charles Roberts of Simi Valley, was not seriously injured.

Kremper’s wife of 50 years, Geri, whom Kremper called “Passion Flower,” his four daughters and several of his nine grandchildren remembered that he loved to tend his garden, fish and cook. On his long walks around Simi Valley, he found change--$51 last year.

“He loved you, but if he didn’t like something you were doing, he would tell you. He didn’t give you respect,” said Mentzer. “You earned respect with him.”

Ironically, Mentzer was trying to locate his grandfather by phone Thursday night when his girlfriend, who was watching the news about a police chase, recognized Kremper’s car overturned in a field. She called Mentzer and he then drove to the scene.

One of Kremper’s daughters wondered why police pursue car thieves so aggressively when the chases can cause injury or death. But Kremper’s oldest grandson said he had no disagreements with how Simi Valley police and Ventura County sheriff’s deputies handled the high-speed pursuit.

“They were doing their job,” said Mentzer. “Unfortunately, things happen, and it happens to hit home this time.”

The Sheriff’s Department on Friday stood by its 11-page pursuit policy, which allows high-speed chases of suspected car thieves. Kremper was the first person not involved in a chase to be killed in the department’s history, Capt. Keith Parks said.

“We never want to see something like this happen,” Parks said. “On the other hand, we do want to arrest felons. It’s an absolute tragedy things ended up as they did.”

A memorial service for Kremper will be held Monday.

Staff writer Margaret Talev contributed to this report.