An 18-year-old tourist visiting New York City from India, identified as Romanch Mahajan, died after a horse-drawn carriage bolted and overturned in Central Park on Wednesday afternoon. The incident occurred near Tavern on the Green around 2:45 p.m., when a horse named Sampson became spooked and took off with passengers inside. Mahajan fell from the carriage and was taken to Weill Cornell Medical Center in critical condition before succumbing to his injuries.
Witnesses reported that a family of four was getting back into the carriage when the horse suddenly bolted. Video footage shows the carriage colliding with another carriage and flipping onto its side. The driver was not in the carriage at the time, as he was reportedly taking a photo of his passengers. The horse, which had been in the park for only six weeks, is said to be unharmed.
The incident has sparked renewed scrutiny of New York City's horse-drawn carriage industry. TWU Local 100 Administrative Vice President Alexander Kemp called the driver's actions "unacceptable" and urged a full investigation. He also advocated for enhanced training, tougher examinations, and stricter rules for introducing new horses into the business. The Central Park Conservancy expressed condolences to Mahajan's family and supported calls for safety improvements.
Authorities have not yet determined what spooked the horse. The investigation remains ongoing.