Cyclist dies after colliding with dog in Central Park, police say
A bicyclist died after he collided with an off-leash dog in Central Park on Monday morning.
The impact caused him to flip over the handlebars and hit his head on the pavement, according to police sources.
The 71-year-old man was riding his bike northbound on East Drive at around 8:18 a.m., when a golden retriever ran out in front of him.
He was rushed to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Police haven't released the man's name yet, pending family notification.
Police initially said the cyclist was not wearing a helmet, but later revised that, saying he was indeed wearing one.
Police said the dog's owner remained on the scene. The dog was not injured, officials said.
"People were standing around saying 'We need a doctor, we need a doctor,'" a witness named Eric said.
The dog was off-leash, but in an area of the park where off-leash dogs are permitted before 9 a.m., police said. The pets have to remain under effective voice control and be licensed and vaccinated against rabies, according to the park's website.
The Central Park Conservancy said dogs are required to be on-leash on the Central Park Drives at all times. The group estimates that it has received around 1,300 complaints in the last month alone about dogs not on a leash.
"More than 40 million people share this magnificent 843-acre gift of green space each year. Every single one of us must accept the responsibility to keep it safe and welcoming for one another. Leash your dog, observe speed limits, and follow the rules of the Park," part of a statement read.
Law enforcement officials are investigating, but the NYPD said there is no criminality at this time.
The incident has divided parkgoers, some of whom told CBS News New York just walking through the park can be dangerous. In late September, a 41-year-old man died after he and a cyclist collided near the same intersection along East Drive.
"People get hurt all the time," one person said.
"You're seeing a lot of incidents like this these days," said another.
"My dogs are always on a leash, especially when crossing the roads when the bicycles are zooming by. That's sort of common sense," a parkgoer named Alex said.
Other parkgoers told CBS News New York that bicycles should have license plates, and there should be more enforcement of existing rules.
"Safety in the park is everybody's job and we really need to think about [how] we treat each other when we're in the park," David Saltonstall of the Central Park Conservancy said. "The police also cannot be everywhere all the time. And so it is a shared responsibility at the end of the day. I think everybody needs to take that to heart no matter how you're using the park."
The organization confirms it has considered speed bumps, security cameras, and additional enforcement in the park.
