An elderly bicyclist died Monday morning after colliding with a dog running loose in Central Park and being thrown over his handlebars, police and sources said.
The 71-year-old man was riding north on East Drive near East 84th Street at about 8:20 a.m. when the unleashed dog darted into the roadway, according to police.
The collision sent the cyclist flying over the handlebars and onto the pavement, where he struck his head, police said.
He was not wearing a helmet and was taken to Weill Cornell Medical Center, where he later died from his injuries, police and sources said.
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The dog was not injured in the crash, police said.
The animal’s owner, a woman, had allowed it to run off-leash because dogs are permitted to be unleashed in that part of the park before 9 a.m., sources said.
Authorities had not released the bicyclist’s identity pending notification of his family.