01:01 PM PST on Friday, February 24, 2006

By KRISTINA BRENNEMAN, kgw.com Staff

AURORA, Ore. -- A 65-year-old Aurora man was arrested Thursday after using his backhoe to smash a car trying to drive down the road in front of his Donald Road house.

kgw.com/Marion County Sheriff's Office

Joseph Schmidt

Joe Schmidt, of 12277 Donald Road NE, Aurora, was charged with driving under the influence of intoxicants, five counts of attempted second degree assault and first degree criminal mischief, according to Marion County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Kevin Rau.

The driver of the car, Sheena Brown of Clackamas, and her four passengers said they were driving on Donald Road when they came upon a backhoe tractor blocking the road, he said.

The man operating it, Schmidt, reportedly yelled at them and said they were trying to kill him. None of the car occupants knew Schmidt.

He then allegedly began smashing the car with his backhoe bucket, breaking the windows and severely damaging the car, police said.

Everyone in the car was able to get out without injury, Rau said.

The road was also damaged.