71-year-old rider killed in fall near the Met after dog crosses Central Park drive

A 71-year-old man died Monday morning, Oct. 5, after his bicycle hit an unleashed dog that ran across East Drive in Central Park, police said.

The call came in shortly after 8 a.m. from the drive near East 84th Street, on the east side of the park by the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Police said the cyclist was riding north when the dog moved into the roadway ahead of him. He went over the handlebars, landed on the pavement and suffered injuries to his head and body. Police sources said he had a helmet on.

First responders brought the man to NewYork-Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medical Center, and he did not survive his injuries. Officials have not released his name while relatives are notified. The dog, which a source identified as a golden retriever, came through without injury, according to police. Its owner, a woman, stayed at the scene, and police sources said she tried to give the man CPR. Police said no one has been arrested and the investigation is continuing.

Central Park dog leash rules on the drives

Dogs may run without a leash in Central Park from 6 to 9 a.m., and sources said that is why this one was loose. The drives are an exception: park rules require any dog on them to be leashed at all hours. In a statement, the Central Park Conservancy said it was heartbroken and urged visitors to behave responsibly. “Leash your dog, observe speed limits, and follow the rules of the Park,” said conservancy spokesperson Kat Brady.

People who visit the park every day say this intersection has been a problem for a while. The road bends on its way to a traffic light, so cyclists and pedestrians have a harder time seeing each other. “I’ve seen a lot of near misses,” said parkgoer James Wacht.

Another deadly crash in the same part of the park

This is the second fatal collision in this part of the park in about a month. Last month, a cyclist struck 41-year-old Richie O’Brien as he walked to his job. O’Brien, who had two children, died days later. After his death, the conservancy asked for new safety measures: a 15 mph speed limit, stricter enforcement of traffic rules and better bike infrastructure.