Coroner: Napa coach was in Jeep blaze

Authorities tentatively ID body as James Grobl, 66

By MARSHA DORGAN
Register Staff Writer

Authorities have identified the man who died in a vehicle fire on Saturday as James Grobl, a longtime Napa High School teacher and swimming coach.

Napa County Coroner’s Office officials believe Grobl, 66, perished when the Jeep Wrangler he was driving caught on fire in his driveway in the 1400 block of Mount Veeder Road.

Grobl was hired by the Napa Valley Unified School District in 1977 and retired from Napa High in 2003.

Napa County Sheriff’s Capt. John Robertson said because the body was burned so badly, positive identification will not be confirmed until authorities have the results of checks against Grobl’s medical and dental records.

“We know James Grobl was a resident of the address where the Jeep was found and he was the registered owner of the vehicle,” Robertson said. “We have notified the next of kin of the tentative identification of the victim.”

Around 12:30 a.m., Saturday, firefighters responded to the Jeep fire. After the fire was extinguished, firefighters discovered the body in the driver’s seat.

“The doors on the Jeep were closed. Because the vehicle was so badly destroyed in the fire, we may never be able to come to an absolute conclusion as to what (caused) the fire,” said Calfire Battalion Chief Dave Shew. “We do know the Jeep started the fire, which spread to the dry grass.”

Shew said fire investigators have two possible conclusions as to the cause of the fire.

“The back end of the Jeep was off the edge of driveway on the dry grass. It looks as if the driver made an attempt to get the Jeep back onto the roadway. The fire could have started from exhaust from the vehicle,” Shew said.

He also said the evidence showed the Jeep had become stuck and the tires had spun enough to dig a rut in the dirt.

“The driver could have been trying to free the vehicle and the spinning of the tires could have caused enough heat friction to start the grass on fire,” Shew said.

Napa High School swimming coach Cathy Pridmore took Grobl’s position when he retired.

“We worked together for about a year and half before he retired. He was my mentor. He was a great guy who really cared about the kids. He was the kind of guy if the kids came to him and needed lunch money, he would give it to them,” Pridmore said. “He was a really awesome guy, who just really cared about the kids. This is a real shock.”

Former Napa High School Athletic Director Scott Kostecka fondly remembered Grobl.

“He was the swimming coach for many, many years. He was a great, caring guy. He was a steady, calm man, who was a positive influence over the kids,” Kostecka said. “The kids loved him. Even after he retired, he would come back to see the kids.”

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