A dispute over mowing grass in an alley took a turn when a woman on a riding lawnmower floored her mower to go as fast as it would go and intentionally crashed into her neighbor’s riding lawn mower while the neighbor was mowing in the alley. No injuries were reported but charges were filed earlier today against the woman who allegedly admitted she didn’t care if she hit the neighbor head-on.

When a criminal case was filed earlier today against Helen Hay, 74, Linton, in Greene Superior Court, a summons was issued and sent via signature confirmation mail ordering Hay to appear in court for an initial hearing on October 20 at 8:30 AM to face charges of:

Criminal recklessness, a Class B misdemeanor, and
Criminal mischief, a Class B misdemeanor.

Deputy Andrew Weeks of the Greene County Sheriff's Department was dispatched along with Deputy Michael Coy to a location on West Parker in the Linton area after Hay’s neighbor called the sheriff's department about a threat. The neighbor said Hay had an issue with the neighbor mowing the alley and that Hay just tried to run her over with her mower.

When the deputies arrived on the scene, the neighbor said she was mowing against her fence when Hay started yelling and screaming at her saying it's an alley and that the neighbor has no right to mow it. The neighbor said she started to go backwards on her riding mower but Hay then started to come at her with her (Hay’s) own riding mower with the blades engaged and she ran over the neighbor’s mower causing damage to the neighbor’s mower. The neighbor said she has had ongoing problems with Hay.

When they talked to Hay, she allegedly said the neighbor scalps the alley and mows up to Hay’s sister’s property and they have this problem every time the neighbor starts her mower.

Deputy Weeks reported that Hay said, “I lined my mower up and I didn't care if I tore up my mower, I was going to hit her head on because she was coming on (my) sister’s side.” After Hay made this statement, Deputy Weeks read her Miranda rights and Hay said she understood them and would still talk to him.

Again Hay said the neighbor mows all the way over to her sister’s property. She said she was mowing her property and noticed the neighbor had her son open the gate. Hay went and mowed her sister’s side of the alley and sat there at the end of the alley when the neighbor started to mow the alley.

Hay allegedly said she pushed her mower to go as fast as it would go and also said she didn’t care if she would have hit the neighbor head on.

Hay further explained that when the neighbor noticed that Hay wasn't going to stop, the neighbor swerved her front wheels and Hay’s front wheels hit the neighbor’s back wheels.

Deputy Weeks reported that Hay admitted that she wouldn't have slowed down and she would tell that to the judge.