November 25, 2005 —The cold didn't stop large crowds from lining the streets of Manhattan yesterday for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade. But the strong winds which caused organizers to consider grounding the balloons led to two people being injured. WNYC's Kathryn Herzog reports.

The accident happened near the end of the parade in Times Square when a giant balloon snagged a street lamp and knocked it off. Two sisters, ages 26 and 11, were taken to hospital with injuries caused by falling debris. Police say the girl required nine stiches to the back of her head. The woman, who was in a wheelchair, was treated for bruises to the head and minor scrapes.

Witnesses say it was the wind that took the balloon off course. But Mayor Bloomberg says winds measured at the intersection were within limits set after a similar incident in 1997 left two spectators seriously injured. The lampposts were redesigned to avoid entanglements with the famous parade balloons. Investigators are questioning the experience of the balloon handlers, who have also recieved more training than in years past. For WNYC, I'm Kathryn Herzog.