Tragedy in Central Park: Cyclist's Fatal Encounter with Unleashed Dog

An elderly bicyclist was killed when he careened into a dog running free in Central Park Monday morning – and flipped over his handlebars to the ground, cops and sources said.

The 71-year-old cyclist was riding north on the East Drive near East 84th Street around 8:20 a.m. when he struck the unleashed pooch who darted into the roadway, police said.

The impact threw the senior over the handlebars and onto the pavement, hitting his head, police said.

The cyclist, who was not wearing a helmet, was rushed to Weill Cornell Medical Center, where he succumbed to his injuries, cops and sources said.

The dog was unharmed during the morning collision, cops said.

The owner, a woman, had the pup running free because dogs are allowed to be unleashed in that section of the park before 9 a.m., sources said.

The identity of the bicyclist was not released pending family notification.