Fairfield Woman in Critical Condition After Being Hit by Bicyclist in Central Park: Police

A Connecticut woman is in critical condition after she was struck by a bicyclist in Central Park Thursday, according to police. 

The 59-year-old woman, from Fairfield, Connecticut, was hit by a bicyclist at West Drive and 63rd Street inside the park at about 5 p.m., according to police. 

She fell to the ground and suffered head trauma, police said. She was taken to NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital's Weill Cornell Medical Center, where she's listed in critical condition.

Police say the 31-year-old cyclist, who stayed at the scene, had minor shoulder and hand injuries and was treated and released from the hospital. 

A preliminary investigation indicated that the cyclist was riding in the park's bike lane and hit the woman while swerving to avoid other pedestrians, according to the NYPD.

Laura Newman of Jackson Heights, Queens, who was bicycling in Central Park Thursday evening, said it was "heartbreaking" to hear about the accident. 

"We don't expect for these kinds of injuries to be happening in Central Park," she said.

She added, "It's rare for a pedestrian to be injured very seriously, and I hope that not all cyclists are indicted, because most of us ride very safely and are very protective of pedestrians."

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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