Central Park carriage driver breaks wrist, others injured after two horses break loose: ‘Thankfully I was not killed'
A pair of runaway carriage horses broke a driver's wrist and injured others in Central Park on Monday after they got free and bolted — just one week after another horse went rogue, wild videos show.
Advertisement
6 A pair of runaway carriage horses took off in Central Park midday Monday.
Edita Birnkrant
The chaotic escape occurred about 2:30 p.m. when a steed prepared to take on passengers near the Central Park Zoo was spooked and sped off towards 59th Street traffic, Edita Birnkrant, executive director of NYCLASS, told The Post.
The horse, named Shadow, then abruptly veered back into the park and crashed into a fleet of parked pedicabs, Birnkrant said.
Advertisement
The commotion then panicked a second stallion, causing it to bolt too. There were no passengers aboard either buggy hitched to the animals.
6 Two carriage horses running wild — without drivers — through Central Park on Memorial Day.
Edita Birnkrant
Dramatic footage of the scene, posted to social media, shows a pedicab driver reining in the horses while panicked coachmen frantically chase after them.
Christina Hansen, the union rep for Central Park's carriage horses, told The Post that Shadow — a new horse to the park — was eating beside his 40-year industry veteran driver when he slipped out of his bridle.
Advertisement
6 A pedicab driver intercepts a carriage horse running loose in Central Park.
Edita Birnkrant
The hero pedicab operator — who was the same driver who helped to corral a runaway horse last Sunday — said he intercepted the buggy of the first horse with his bike. He sustained a leg injury from being kicked during the mayhem.
'Thankfully, I was not killed, it was too scary,' said the pedicab driver, who declined to provide his name to The Post.
He described how it was 'the second time to see the same thing — to have the horse coming at full speed.'
Advertisement
6 'The incident highlights the need for hitching posts to tether idle horses in place,' Hansen said, 'which drivers and the union have requested from the city in previous discussions.'
TikTok/@mirandamooney
The driver, whose pedicab was flipped over and damaged in the kerfuffle, ended up cycling Shadow's coachman to Mount Sinai West for a broken wrist.
Another carriage driver was reportedly kicked in the head, and a third broke their hand.
'The heroic pedicab driver saved people's lives doing what he did and putting himself at risk,' Birnkrant said, adding that the horses must 'definitely be traumatized' and that she would 'be surprised if they didn't have some kind of injuries.'
6 Edita Birnkrant, executive director of NYCLASS, calling to end the practices of horse carriages in New York City outside City Hall during a rally Wednesday.
Paul Martinka
Hansen said the incident highlights the need for more hitching posts to tether idle horses, 'which drivers and the union have requested from the city in previous discussions.'
However, Birnkrant argued that a hitching post could be easily ripped out by a startled horse — and that it is just another example why the practice should be banned in the Big Apple.
It is 'simply a miracle' that nobody was 'killed' in the recent incidents, the animal rights activist said at a rally outside City Hall on Wednesday, before adding, 'but the luck is going to run out.'
Advertisement
6 Animal activists stage a die-in outside City Hall on Wednesday in protest of the horse carriage industry.
Paul Martinka
Meanwhile, animal activists doused themselves in fake blood outside City Hall to demand an end to the carriage horse practice.
'We have had dozens of these runaway horse crashes, horses dropping dead, crashing into vehicles and injuring people,' Birnkrant said.
'Not only is this a deadly industry, but it's extremely dangerous for everyone in Midtown.'
Advertisement
A spokesperson for City Hall told The Post that the Adams administration is 'dedicated to keeping New Yorkers safe everywhere in our city, which also means keeping our city's animals safe.
'We are looking into this concerning incident,' the rep added.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
an hour ago
- New York Post
Lucky NYC traveler finds $27K diamond in an Arkansas park — now she has a special use for it: ‘I got on my knees and cried'
She's a local rock star. Bidding a temporary farewell to the Big Apple boded well for future bride Micherre Fox, 31, who stumbled upon a 2.30-carat white diamond — worth around $27,000 — during a three-week hunt at the Crater of Diamonds State Park in Arkansas. It's a finger-licking find that's saving her fiancé a handful of dough. 5 Fox spent several weeks scouring through an Arkansas park, looking for a diamond for her engagement ring. Arkansas State Parks 'Having never seen an actual diamond in my hands, I didn't know for sure, but it was the most diamond-y diamond I had seen,' the Manhattan-based millennial raved in a statement. 'I got on my knees and cried, then started laughing.' Fox, a recent graduate school grad, decided to celebrate her academic achievements with an excavating adventure through the park's diamond-search area, a 37.5-acre landmark, where over 75,000 stellar stones have been unearthed since the early 1900s. A staggering 366 diamonds have been registered at Crater of Diamonds in 2025 alone, including 11 weighing more than one carat each. Fox did not immediately respond to The Post's request for a comment. But now, she's laughing on easy street. 5 Fox experienced an array of emotions — including tearful shock and laughing excitement — upon finding her diamond on the last day of the hunt. Arkansas State Parks With the national average cost of an engagement ring totaling $5,500, per a recent study, Fox and her groom-to-be, who fully supported her decision to dig for her own diamond, are coming up roses ahead of their big day. Owing to the high price of weddings, which can cost couples across the country more than $26,000 — and the lovebirds near NYC over $58,000 — every penny counts. Rather than blowing their budget on a ritzy rock, Fox was more than eager to take engagement matters into her own hands — quite literally. 'I was willing to go anywhere in the world to make that happen,' she said. 'I researched, and it turned out that the only place in the world to do it was right in our backyard, in Arkansas!' 5 The largest diamond ever discovered in Crater of Diamonds State Park was a 40.23-carat rock, which is now part of the Smithsonian's mineral and gem collection. Shutterstock / VioletSkyAdventures Well, it's not so much 'our backyard' as it is 1,200 miles away from New York — but hey, who's counting? 'There's something symbolic about being able to solve problems with money, but sometimes money runs out in a marriage,' added Fox. 'You need to be willing and able to solve those problems with hard work.' And work, she did. The brunette kicked off her weeks-long search on July 8, spending hours combing through the grounds at Crater of Diamonds for bling. Daily, she'd hit the trail, desperately looking high and low for that glitzy glow, but would routinely come up empty-handed. Fox's luck, however, changed at 11 a.m. on July 29, her final day at the park, when she noticed something shiny by her feet. The nearly-wed initially assumed it was an iridescent, dew-covered spiderweb. 5 Fox initially mistook the stone for a spiderweb until she got a closer look and discovered it was, in fact, a diamond. Arkansas State Parks But after giving it a slight nudge and noticing its gleam, Fox realized she'd scored treasure. Experts at the park's Diamond Discovery Center confirmed that Fox had found a white, or colorless, diamond weighing more than two carats. It's approximately the size of a human canine tooth. The gem — which she's named the Fox-Ballou Diamond — in honor of her and her fiancé, reportedly boasts a smooth, rounded shape and beautiful metallic luster, typical of most Crater diamonds. It is the third-largest diamond found at the park, thus far, this year. Park officials are happy for the soon-to-be married gal. 5 Park authorities confirmed the weight and color of Fox's sweet fine, and congratulated her on the dazzling discovery. Shutterstock / VioletSkyAdventures 'Ms. Fox's story highlights the fact that, even when putting forth your best effort, being in the right place at the right time plays a part in finding diamonds,' said Waymon Cox, Crater of Diamonds State Park Assistant Superintendent, in a statement. 'After weeks of hard work, Ms. Fox found her diamond sitting right on top of the ground.' A satisfies Fox is grateful that her search was successful — and that it's now over. 'After all the research, there's luck and there's hard work,' said the belle, who plans to have the rock set in her engagement ring. 'When you are literally picking up the dirt in your hands, no amount of research can do that for you; no amount of education can take you all the way.' 'It was daunting!'
USA Today
7 hours ago
- USA Today
What are the 4 major US cities? The internet can't decide. Vote for your picks.
There are thousands of cities in the United States, but according to the internet, four are more important than the rest. Which ones are they? That's up for discussion. Social media's latest debate revolves around the notion that the U.S. only has four "major" cities. The criteria and evaluation of which ones make the cut are up to each respective user, but many people seem to agree on at least two of them. Thousands of people, from content creators to professional athletes, have weighed in on the discourse across platforms like TikTok and X in recent weeks. What do you think? Take our survey at the bottom of this story. What are the four major US cities? Ranking one area as more "major" than another is obviously subjective, but many online commenters concur on two cities' inclusion in the list: New York City and Los Angeles. They are, after all, the most populous cities in the U.S. and each offer a lot in other criteria that netizens have used for evaluation. The third spot is where it gets dicey, as some users have staunchly advocated for Chicago to be included, while others argue against it. "I think we all need to come to a general consensus that the top three are locked in," content creator Eli Rallo said in an Aug. 3 TikTok, which has been viewed more than 625,000 times to date. "It's indisputably New York City, Los Angeles and Chicago." "Chicago just isn't top 3, NY and LA are the only for certains," one commenter said on the video. When it comes to other contenders, several cities have circulated in online discourse. "The real debate should be the fourth one," user @ said in a July 30 TikTok. "I've seen a lot of like, Miamis, or like, I've seen some people say D.C. 'cause it's the capital." "If we're being honest there is no big 4 or even big 3. It's just NYC and LA," one commenter wrote on the video. What makes a 'major' city? Factors like a city's size, sports teams or historical significance have all been used by social media users in weighing the four major U.S. cities. When it comes to population, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Houstin are the top four largest cities in the country, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. However, many have emphasized the importance of factors other than size. "Remember, it is not just the biggest cities, it's the major cities," user @hoodieguyspam said in a TikTok. "You have to factor in cultural impact." One cultural impact to note, at least to some, is where to develop a career. "Everyone goes to New York City or LA to follow their dreams, or industry there, there are just lots of opportunities," user @reagans_ratings said in a TikTok. International recognition has also played a factor in some rankings. "As a Brit I'd always say New York, Washington DC, Los Angeles, Chicago. They're the most populous and noteworthy for us across the pond," one commenter said. What do you think the four major U.S. cities are? Vote in our survey Do you agree on New York, Los Angeles or Chicago? Is there a city you think should enter this debate? Take USA TODAY's survey and weigh in on what the four major U.S. cities are below. This survey includes the 50 most populated cities in the U.S., according to the Census Bureau. Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. She can be reached at
Newsweek
2 days ago
- Newsweek
Foster Dog Finally Learns to Trust, Plants Surprise Kiss on Rescuer
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. After months of gaining a foster dog's trust, one woman squealed with excitement when the canine finally showed her first sign of accepting the love. TikTok user @thefatdog welcomed home Meadow as her foster dog from the nonprofit animal rescue, Saving South Texas. Meadow gave birth to 10 puppies in the Rio Grande Valley, an Instagram post from the rescue stated. And based on the dog's scars, the foster mother believes she had also been abused, leading Meadow to be hesitant about humans. This foster mom worked with Meadow, day-in-and-day out, to show her that not all humans will hurt her. She put no timeline on gaining Meadow's trust. There would be no giving up on her watch. Then, unexpectedly, Meadow finally set aside her fear and took a leap of faith. She planted a gentle, sloppy kiss on her foster mom's face, which was captured and shared in an August 8 TikTok video. Thrilled about this giant step forward, the foster mom gasped with excitement. However, she noted her reaction scared Meadow. She "messed up" and spent every moment after trying to teach Meadow that she will never be punished for kisses. The video's text overlay reads: "As foster parents, this is why we have to stay calm. Scared dogs read everything, even our actions." Time and patience again took over in this household, and soon enough, Meadow couldn't stop giving out kisses. She went from being unable to look at her foster family in the face to accepting and sharing love. And since then, this foster family has learned that Meadow is nothing but a ball of affection, according to @thefatdog in the video's comments section. She'll only continue to blossom from this point on and into her forever home. Newsweek reached out to @thefatdog via TikTok for additional information and comment. Screenshots from an August 8 TikTok video of a dog finally learned to trust humans by planting a kiss on her foster mother's face. Screenshots from an August 8 TikTok video of a dog finally learned to trust humans by planting a kiss on her foster mother's face. @thefatdog/TikTok TikTok Users React The precious interaction between Meadow and her foster mom took TikTok by storm, reaching over 34,300 views and 3,540 likes on the social media platform as of Monday afternoon. One user wrote: "Stop, I'm sobbing...I am so happy you found each other, and she's learning how love works." A second added: "Ok, now I am crying. She's come so far. She's so much more confident. She's going to make her forever family so happy." And a third user posted: "I'm squealing on your behalf." Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@ with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
