Medical costs mount for fatal wrong-way driver

Boldt, 21, was scheduled to begin trial on murder charges stemming from a serious car crash in March 2003 that killed his friend and left him wheelchair-bound. Complications from that same accident, though, keep sending Boldt to Stanford Medical Center and postponing the trial. Most recently, a leg infection kept him bed-ridden at the hospital. During a progress report yesterday, Judge Carl Holm was informed that Boldt will remain there at least through the week.

All jail and prison inmates in the state are guaranteed medical care during their incarceration, whether that amounts to a bandage, dialysis or trips to Stanford for Boldt's injured back and infected leg. The adopted 2003-2004 budget allotted $5.25 million for correctional health services. Between jail overcrowding and an increase in mentally ill inmates, Boldt's individual expenses carve a hefty chunk from the total budget.

With his ailments far from over, though, it remains uncertain when Boldt might be well enough to stand trial.

Boldt faces charges of second-degree murder in the March 16, 2003 death of Bobby Luke Kleinheinz, a passenger in his car during a high-speed chase. Boldt is also charged with manslaughter, felony driving under the influence, evading a police officer and possession of drug paraphernalia. Boldt pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Boldt was allegedly fleeing from police by driving the wrong way on Interstate 280 at high speeds when the 1986 Nissan pickup truck he was driving slammed into another vehicle. That car's driver was injured and Kleinheinz was ejected from the truck. Boldt already had a warrant for his arrest.

Boldt, who was reportedly under the influence of methamphetamine at the time of the incident, was arrested near the Santa Clara County border after an 18-mile high-speed chase. Boldt sparked the chase by running a stop sign at 40 mph on Skyline Boulevard in Millbrae, police reported.

A Millbrae police sergeant tried pulling Boldt over but he continued driving and reached speeds up to 110 mph. Boldt struck another vehicle at one point but continued driving south until the fatal collision. Two other accidents also occurred when drivers tried avoiding Boldt and Farber. The chase finally stopped at about 1:30 a.m. north of Alpine Road in Portola Valley when Boldt plowed the truck he was driving into a car driven by Girish Wadhwani of Redwood City. Wadhwani suffered two broken wrists and a broken leg but Kleinheinz, 20, of La Honda, was ejected and killed.

The California Highway Patrol reported that Boldt fled because the Nissan was stolen and both he and Kleinheinz had outstanding warrants. Kleinheinz had a $5,000 outstanding warrant and Boldt had two drug-related warrants totaling $20,000. He had failed to appear in Proposition 36 drug court. A glass pipe with drug residue was found inside the Nissan.

Kleinheinz's mother, Maxine Mercier, has stood by Boldt and believes the police officer is more at fault for her son's death.

Mercier has a pending civil suit against the city of Millbrae as does Wadhwani. Boldt remains in custody in lieu of $1 million bail.

Michelle Durand can be reached by e-mail: michelle@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 104. What do you think of this story? Send a letter to the editor: letters@smdailyjournal.com.