Cops: Would-be good Samaritan helps, then makes things worse

GENESEE FALLS, N.Y. (AP) — Authorities say a good Samaritan trying to help a New York man in distress turned out to be a bad Samaritan.

The Wyoming County sheriff's office says a man's foot got stuck under his riding mower last week on a sloped lawn near an embankment in Genesee Falls.

Deputies say 31-year-old Christopher Ratcliffe heard his cries for help. Ratcliffe had stopped at a nearby gas station while driving back to Pennsylvania.

Police say Ratcliffe tied a rope from his vehicle to the mower. But instead of backing up, Ratcliffe went forward, causing the trapped man, the mower and Ratcliffe's vehicle to go over the 12-foot-high embankment.

The mower landed on the man, who had minor injuries.

Ratcliffe was ticketed for driving a vehicle that was uninsured, uninspected and unregistered.