Former Burlington Mayor Roger 'Gus' Tjeerdsma Dies

The family of former Burlington Mayor Roger "Gus" Tjeerdsma said he was unable to overcome the massive injuries he sustained in a Feb. 4 bulldozer accident, and he died Friday at Harborview Medical Center.

Infections caused by dead tissue spread and toxins eventually overloaded his system.

“Gus suffered massive injuries to the soft tissue and bones of his legs, pelvis, backside and left arm,” the family wrote in a posting at caringbridge.org.

Police said Roger Tjeerdsma was in a field talking to a co-worker when he tried to climb into the bulldozer's cab. As he was climbing in, he may have hit something like a lever that caused the machine to roll and drag him under.

Tjeerdsma, 68, was Burlington’s mayor for three terms ending in 2006.

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