Bulldozer rampage in Colorado

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US man goes on bulldozer rampage

GRANBY (Colorado) -- A muffler shop owner who plowed his makeshift armoured bulldozer into several buildings over a dispute with city officials was found dead in the machine after a SWAT team gained access with explosives, authorities said.

A statement from Grand County Undersheriff Glen Trainor confirmed that Marvin Heemeyer was dead but did not give a cause.

Heemeyer, who lost two bitter battles with town officials, plowed an armor-plated bulldozer into the town hall, a former mayor's home and at least five other buildings Friday before the machine ground to a halt in the wreckage of a warehouse.

No injuries were reported in the rampage.

Authorities blasting their way into the steel-plated cab of the machine with explosives early on Saturday after two explosions the previous night failed to penetrate the makeshift armour, said Jim Holahan, director of the Grand County Emergency Management.

The slow-motion rampage left a trail of splintered structures in this tourist town of 2,200 people outside Rocky Mountain National Park, but there were no reports of injuries.

The driver was armed with a .50-calibre weapon, but it appeared he deliberately avoided injuring anyone.

The rampage began on Friday, with the man creeping through town shooting and destroying buildings.

At least 40 sheriff's deputies, state patrol officers and federal park and forest rangers fired about 200 rounds at the yellow bulldozer, Holahan said.

The shots were deflected by heavy metal plates over the cab, hood and radiator, apparently welded on over a period of weeks in the driver's muffler shop.

By late afternoon, the bulldozer had come to a stop stuck in the rubble of a metal warehouse. Officers clambered on top, apparently trying to talk to the driver.

Hours later, officers still surrounded the bulldozer, and there had been no sign of movement inside, said Lurline Curran, Grand County manager.

The man was angry after losing a zoning dispute over land near his muffler shop, town manager Tom Hale said. He also had been fined US$2,500 in a separate case for not having a septic tank and other city code violations at his business, Mr Hale said.

Some of the wrecked buildings apparently belonged to people involved in the disputes. The driver of the bulldozer had reportedly spent two months fortifying the vehicle in his shop.

Ian Daugherty, a bakery owner, said the driver was upset a concrete plant had been built too close to his business.

The bulldozer knocked out the natural gas service to City Hall and a cement plant, damaging a truck and part of a utility service centre, Xcel Energy spokesman Mark Stutz said.