The Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office says a late-night dispute in Santa Maria escalated when a 38-year-old man allegedly used a wheel loader to repeatedly ram and then crush an occupied Hyundai Tiburon. Deputies responded after a 911 call at about 12:03 a.m.; a female passenger escaped without serious injury. Investigators identified the equipment as a Caterpillar 938 (about 35,528 lbs) and arrested Levi Gaze, who faces felony charges including assault with a deadly weapon and vandalism.
California Man Allegedly Used Caterpillar Wheel Loader To Crush Occupied Hyundai After Dispute
Photo Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office
A late-night dispute in rural Santa Maria, California, escalated into a dangerous and unusual incident when deputies say a man climbed into heavy construction equipment and used it to crush a car that still had a passenger inside.
What Happened
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office says deputies were dispatched at about 12:03 a.m. Saturday to the 1700 block of Sinton Road after a 911 caller reported someone driving a front loader into a vehicle. When officers arrived they found a severely damaged car. Investigators allege 38-year-old Levi Gaze of Paso Robles rammed the occupied vehicle several times before using the loader's bucket to cause additional destruction.
A woman who had been riding in the car managed to exit and did not suffer serious injuries, deputies said. Authorities have not released details about what triggered the argument that preceded the incident.
Equipment Involved
Although the sheriff's office described the equipment as a "front loader tractor," released photos show what appears to be a Caterpillar 938 wheel loader. Caterpillar classifies the 938 as a "small wheel loader," a relative term: the manufacturer's specifications list an operating weight of 35,528 pounds—nearly 18 tons. The machine produces about 191 horsepower and can be fitted with a bucket that holds up to 6.5 cubic yards of material.
New examples of the 938 can cost in the neighborhood of $328,000 before options and attachments, underscoring how extreme and reckless the alleged act was compared with the relatively modest value of the damaged vehicle, reported to be a 2006–2008 Hyundai Tiburon.
Investigation and Charges
Deputies contacted the operator while he remained inside the loader and took him into custody without incident. Photos released by the sheriff's office show extensive damage to the sedan, including a crushed hood, shattered glass, roofline damage and heavy rear-end deformation.
Gaze was booked into the Northern Branch Jail on felony charges of assault with a deadly weapon and vandalism. Authorities also said he was arrested on an outstanding no-bail warrant from San Luis Obispo County and remains held without bail. As with all defendants, he is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
Unanswered Questions
Investigators have not disclosed what sparked the confrontation, leaving unanswered how and why a dispute in a rural neighborhood escalated to using a nearly 18-ton piece of construction equipment against a passenger vehicle. Officials say the investigation is ongoing.
Help us improve.
