Spider-Man was impaled and Buzz Lightyear sent a balloon handler to the hospital during a chaotic Macy’s Thanksgiving Day’s Parade.
Parade volunteer Keri O’Connell, 39, was injured when a cart riding below the 67-foot-long “Toy Story” hero ran over her foot around 10:30 a.m. at West 75th St. and Central Park West.
Cathy Zanella, 48, was holding a line attached to the balloon with O’Connell, her niece, when the cart driver careened into her.
“He ran over her foot! (The tire) traveled up to her knee then he stopped,” said Zanella at Roosevelt Hospital with O’Connell of Franklin Square, L.I. “She was yelling, ‘You ran me over! Back up! Back up!’ She couldn't get out. She was crying."
[h=4]CARLO ALLEGRI/REUTERS[/h][h=4]A cart ran over parade volunteer Keri O'Connell's foot while she was handling the Buzz Lightyear balloon at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.[/h]
PHOTOS: MACY'S THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE 2013
Zanella, who was uninjured, said she felt guilty because she convinced O’Connell to volunteer with her for balloon duty, which had been her lifelong dream.
The driver “didn't know what he was doing. He couldn't even find reverse to get the car off her leg!” said Zanella. “He was on her leg for two or three minutes. We were yelling at him to drive off of her. ‘You're on top of her! You need to reverse!’ And he was confused."
A Fire Department spokesman said O’Connell was being treated for a minor foot injury.
[h=4]GARY HERSHORN/REUTERS[/h][h=4]A Central Park tree partially deflated Spider-Man's left arm in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.[/h]
Only two blocks away at West 77th St., Spider-Man nearly met his match: A Central Park tree.
PHOTOS: MACY'S BALLOONS THROUGH THE YEARS
The 78-foot long balloon of the webslinger drifted through the 89th annual parade with a deflated left arm thanks to the tree.
"It hit a tree branch. It was his left arm. And it put a big old hole in it," said Liam Rice, 44, of Arlington, Va. who was enjoying the 87th annual parade with his wife and 7-year-old son.
[h=4]John Minchillo/AP[/h][h=4]The iconic Snoopy balloon takes to the heavens … sort of. Fifteen floats had to fly at half the usual height due to high winds.[/h]
“His left arm is definitely going to need some repair.”
Spidey was among the 15 massive balloons the NYPD ordered flown at half the typical height due to winds gusting up to 43 mph — likely contributing to the mishap.
RELATED: OBAMA NAMES POPCORN THE NATIONAL THANKSGIVING TURKEY
But the near-miss did little to diminish spirits flying high at the sight of beloved characters like Spongebob Squarepants, Snoopy and Woodstock, and Papa Smurf on the crisp 32-degree day.
[h=4]John Minchillo/AP[/h][h=4]Balloon handlers prepare to march in the 87th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.[/h]
Ben Wintersteen, 8, gasped with wonder as his favorite character Sonic the Hedgehog flew overhead.
"He's really big! And he went right over me. I saw his tummy and feet,” said Ben, who was visiting from Falmouth, Maine with his mom, dad and brother.
“I'm very glad I'm here. It's cool and awesome. There are all these people dressed up, and there are floats!”
RELATED: STORMY WEATHER CREATES THANKSGIVING TRAVEL NIGHTMARE
[h=4]Charles Norfleet/FilmMagic[/h][h=4]Die-hard fans watch as Buzz Lightyear of ‘Toy Story’ gets inflated in the earliest hours of Wednesday.[/h]
There were 30 floats, in fact, as well as 1,600 cheerleaders and dancers, 900 clowns and 11 marching bands.
Celebrities and big-time performers were out in full force, as well, like Joan Jett, the Goo Goo Dolls, Richard Simmons, stars of the “Duck Dynasty” television show, Joe Namath and former New York Giant Amani Toomer.
Jenna Silva, 18, was visiting with three friends from The University of the Arts in Philadelphia and swooned at the sight of the host of NBC’s “Late Night.”
“I cried when I saw Jimmy Fallon! He's beautiful.” said Silva, who was having a blast.
[h=4]Taylor Hill/Getty Images[/h][h=4]The Kool-Aid Man was one of the many beloved characters inflated for the annual spectacle, which featured 30 floating balloons.[/h]
RELATED: THANKSGIVING FEATS OF WORMS, CRICKETS
“It's kind of like a dream because you grow up watching (the parade).”
James Madison University freshman Joey Figliola, 18, had the honor performing as part of the college’s marching band — the Marching Royal Dukes.
"It's been a great experience so far, and it's only going to get better," said the xylophone player, brimming with anticipation.
[h=4]Eugene Gologursky/WireImage[/h][h=4]After initial concern the balloons wouldn’t be able to float at all, Mayor Bloomberg gave the all-clear.[/h]
He had been practicing in the cold since 3 a.m. when the balloons were inflated as die-hard fans watched.
RELATED: THANKSGIVING PARADE BALLOONS EXPECTED TO FLY
“It's pretty surreal,” he said.
For Anthony D'Attoma, 17, of Deer Park, L.I., the parade is part of a family tradition that concludes with a Thanksgiving feast.
As he does every year, D’Attoma caught a 4 a.m. train with his father and cousins into the city.
"It's a different experience just watching it live!" said D’Attoma, sporting a hat with a stuffed turkey — just like his father.
"It's a tradition. When we get home, the food is almost ready."
Parade volunteer Keri O’Connell, 39, was injured when a cart riding below the 67-foot-long “Toy Story” hero ran over her foot around 10:30 a.m. at West 75th St. and Central Park West.
Cathy Zanella, 48, was holding a line attached to the balloon with O’Connell, her niece, when the cart driver careened into her.
“He ran over her foot! (The tire) traveled up to her knee then he stopped,” said Zanella at Roosevelt Hospital with O’Connell of Franklin Square, L.I. “She was yelling, ‘You ran me over! Back up! Back up!’ She couldn't get out. She was crying."
PHOTOS: MACY'S THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE 2013
Zanella, who was uninjured, said she felt guilty because she convinced O’Connell to volunteer with her for balloon duty, which had been her lifelong dream.
The driver “didn't know what he was doing. He couldn't even find reverse to get the car off her leg!” said Zanella. “He was on her leg for two or three minutes. We were yelling at him to drive off of her. ‘You're on top of her! You need to reverse!’ And he was confused."
A Fire Department spokesman said O’Connell was being treated for a minor foot injury.
Only two blocks away at West 77th St., Spider-Man nearly met his match: A Central Park tree.
PHOTOS: MACY'S BALLOONS THROUGH THE YEARS
The 78-foot long balloon of the webslinger drifted through the 89th annual parade with a deflated left arm thanks to the tree.
"It hit a tree branch. It was his left arm. And it put a big old hole in it," said Liam Rice, 44, of Arlington, Va. who was enjoying the 87th annual parade with his wife and 7-year-old son.
“His left arm is definitely going to need some repair.”
Spidey was among the 15 massive balloons the NYPD ordered flown at half the typical height due to winds gusting up to 43 mph — likely contributing to the mishap.
RELATED: OBAMA NAMES POPCORN THE NATIONAL THANKSGIVING TURKEY
But the near-miss did little to diminish spirits flying high at the sight of beloved characters like Spongebob Squarepants, Snoopy and Woodstock, and Papa Smurf on the crisp 32-degree day.
Ben Wintersteen, 8, gasped with wonder as his favorite character Sonic the Hedgehog flew overhead.
"He's really big! And he went right over me. I saw his tummy and feet,” said Ben, who was visiting from Falmouth, Maine with his mom, dad and brother.
“I'm very glad I'm here. It's cool and awesome. There are all these people dressed up, and there are floats!”
RELATED: STORMY WEATHER CREATES THANKSGIVING TRAVEL NIGHTMARE
There were 30 floats, in fact, as well as 1,600 cheerleaders and dancers, 900 clowns and 11 marching bands.
Celebrities and big-time performers were out in full force, as well, like Joan Jett, the Goo Goo Dolls, Richard Simmons, stars of the “Duck Dynasty” television show, Joe Namath and former New York Giant Amani Toomer.
Jenna Silva, 18, was visiting with three friends from The University of the Arts in Philadelphia and swooned at the sight of the host of NBC’s “Late Night.”
“I cried when I saw Jimmy Fallon! He's beautiful.” said Silva, who was having a blast.
RELATED: THANKSGIVING FEATS OF WORMS, CRICKETS
“It's kind of like a dream because you grow up watching (the parade).”
James Madison University freshman Joey Figliola, 18, had the honor performing as part of the college’s marching band — the Marching Royal Dukes.
"It's been a great experience so far, and it's only going to get better," said the xylophone player, brimming with anticipation.
He had been practicing in the cold since 3 a.m. when the balloons were inflated as die-hard fans watched.
RELATED: THANKSGIVING PARADE BALLOONS EXPECTED TO FLY
“It's pretty surreal,” he said.
For Anthony D'Attoma, 17, of Deer Park, L.I., the parade is part of a family tradition that concludes with a Thanksgiving feast.
As he does every year, D’Attoma caught a 4 a.m. train with his father and cousins into the city.
"It's a different experience just watching it live!" said D’Attoma, sporting a hat with a stuffed turkey — just like his father.
"It's a tradition. When we get home, the food is almost ready."