The death of 18-year-old Romanch Mahajan, an Indian teen who fell from a Central Park horse carriage, has intensified calls to end the horse carriage industry. This incident marks the first human fatality involving a horse carriage in Central Park since their introduction over 150 years ago, though there have been eight horse-related incidents in the park over the past 13 months.
Accident Details
Romanch Mahajan was on a family trip celebrating his high school graduation. He jumped out of the carriage after his mother fell and hit his head on the ground. The mother, father, and younger son escaped with minor injuries, but Romanch died. Their carriage clipped another horse-drawn vehicle and toppled over.
Family's Tragic Visit
The family arrived in New York from India on Monday, the same day Romanch learned he had been accepted to a university in Jaipur. They spent the day visiting popular tourist attractions and were unwinding on a carriage ride when the driver got off to photograph them. Moments later, the accident occurred.
“This incident should be taken very seriously,” Mahajan said. “It took my son's dream away.”
Industry Response
The company that owns the carriage suspended the driver and decided to retire the horse from the business. “We’re absolutely gutted and stunned by this tragedy. We’ve never had a fatal accident like this before,” said Alexander Kemp, a vice president with the Transport Workers Union Local 100. “We have shuttered the stables and ceased operations today while we have extensive internal discussions of safety protocols and how they can be improved.”
Legislative Action
City Council leaders said they’d hold a hearing next month on Ryder's Law, a bill backed by the conservancy. Mayor Zohran Mamdani reiterated his support for ending the industry, a position he campaigned on last year. He said he’d work with the council, the industry, and animal welfare advocates to “deliver a just transition that protects workers while ending horse-drawn carriages in Central Park once and for all.”
The Transport Workers Union, which opposed past efforts to shut down the industry, backed legislation last week that would establish hitching posts throughout the park so drivers could safely tether and secure their horses, including at popular tourist photo stops.
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