An explosion that left a Tucson man with severe burns was caused by two pipe bombs that had been planted under the driver’s seat in his pickup truck, investigators have determined.
James R. Blayda, 33, is recovering in Tucson, after initially going to a Maricopa County medical center. He was the target of the bombing, although detectives aren’t ready to say if they have a motive or any leads in the case, Deputy Dawn Barkman, a Pima County Sheriff’s Department spokeswoman, said Tuesday.
The devices detonated on the afternoon of Feb. 20 in Blayda’s truck outside his home, in the 3000 block of South Gold Flower Avenue, near West Bopp and South San Joaquin roads.
A neighbor took Blayda to the Drexel Heights Fire Department with second- and third-degree burns to his face, neck and hands.
Detectives haven’t determined what triggered the explosion, but they found the devices and hope forensic evidence will lead them to suspects, Barkman said.
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It’s not difficult to make a pipe bomb, but local authorities rarely get reports of one that has been detonated, she said.
Anyone with information is asked to call 911 or 88-CRIME, the anonymous tip line of the Pima County Attorney’s Office.
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