New York Authorities Seek to End Horse-Drawn Carriages After Teen's Death A horse-drawn carriage accident in Central Park on June 17, 2026, that killed an 18-year-old Indian teenager has intensified calls for the city to phase out the centuries-old practice. Romanch Mahajan, who was visiting New York with his family to celebrate his high school graduation, died after leaping from the carriage to save his mother, who had fallen from the vehicle. According to his father, Deepak Mahajan, Romanch struck his head on the ground and later succumbed to his injuries. The family sustained minor injuries, though the carriage collided with another horse-drawn vehicle and overturned. Mahajan’s father described the incident as harrowing, noting his son had been shouting, “¡Mamá!” before the accident. The company operating the carriage involved in the incident suspended its driver indefinitely and removed the horse from service, as confirmed by the Transport Workers Union Local 100, which represents carriage drivers and owners. Alexander Kemp, the union’s vice president, expressed profound grief over the tragedy, stating, “This incident must be taken very seriously. It stole my son’s dream.” The union also announced plans to halt operations temporarily while reviewing safety protocols and exploring ways to enhance protections for both workers and the public. The Central Park Conservancy, which manages the 850-acre park, confirmed that Mahajan’s death marks the first fatal incident involving a horse-drawn carriage since the practice was introduced over 150 years ago. The organization called for an immediate suspension of the industry until additional safety measures can be implemented, citing eight previous incidents involving horses in the park over the past 13 months.#zohran_mamdani #romanch_mahajan #central_park_conservancy #deepak_mahajan #transport_workers_union_local_100
