Indian Teen Dies After Horse-Drawn Carriage Bolts in Central Park; Driver Suspended and Ban Called

An 18-year-old Indian tourist died after jumping from a runaway horse-drawn carriage in New York's Central Park, where he reportedly attempted to help his mother after she fell from the vehicle. The incident, captured in a widely circulated video, occurred when the horse bolted while the carriage driver had stepped away to take a photograph of the family.

The victim, identified as Romanch Mahajan, was visiting New York with his parents and younger brother on his first trip to the city. According to his family, the horse suddenly sprinted through the park after the driver got off the carriage, causing panic among the passengers. A short video of the incident shows the carriage speeding away before at least two people fall from it as the driver runs behind in an attempt to regain control.

Romanch's father, Deepak Mahajan, said the family desperately held on to one another as the carriage raced forward. When his wife, Priya Mahajan, fell from the moving carriage, Romanch jumped out in an effort to help her. He suffered a severe head injury and was taken to hospital, where he died several hours later, while the remaining family members escaped with minor injuries.

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According to reports, the horse involved in the incident, a seven-year-old named Sampson, had been working in Central Park for only six weeks. After bolting, the animal reportedly collided with another carriage before toppling. The Mahajan family had arrived in New York earlier in the week and had spent their vacation visiting popular landmarks, including the Statue of Liberty and the Brooklyn Bridge. Romanch had also recently learned that he had secured admission to a university in Jaipur.

The Transport Workers Union Local 100, which represents horse carriage drivers, described the incident as the first fatal accident involving a horse-drawn carriage in Central Park's more than 150-year history. Union vice president Alexander Kemp said drivers are not permitted to leave their carriages to take photographs and confirmed that the driver involved has been suspended indefinitely by the carriage owner pending further investigation.

The tragedy has renewed calls to end horse-drawn carriage rides in Central Park. New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani said he would work with the city council, industry representatives and animal welfare groups to develop a transition plan that protects workers while phasing out the practice. The Central Park Conservancy also called for the suspension of the carriage industry until stronger safety measures are introduced, noting that Romanch Mahajan's death was the eighth horse-related incident reported in the park over the past 13 months.

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