NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� The death of a young tourist who in Central Park has intensified calls to ban the old-time attraction from one of New York City鈥檚 most recognizable destinations.
Romanch Mahajan, 18, died after he got off of the four-wheeled carriage as its horse without the driver.
He is believed to be the first person to die in a horse carriage accident since they were introduced in Central Park more than 150 years ago, according to the labor union representing the industry and the Central Park Conservancy, which manages the 843-acre (341-hectare) park.
The conservancy was among those arguing Thursday that the carriage industry should be suspended until more protections can be put in place. Mahajan鈥檚 death was the eighth horse-related incident in the park over the past 13 months, the group said.
鈥淭he record is undeniable: crashes, runaways, horse deaths, injuries, and now a devastating loss of human life,鈥� said Edita Birnkrant, head of the animal welfare group New Yorkers for Clean, Livable, and Safe Streets.
Animal rights activists have long said the carriage horses are overworked, can get easily spooked on city streets and live in inadequate stables while their drivers regularly flout city rules. All of those allegations have been denied by the horse and carriage owners, who say the animals are well cared for and the stables are fine.
The conservancy has argued that horses can no longer safely share park roads teeming with joggers, cyclists, pedestrians and motorized scooters, noting that other U.S. cities, including Chicago and San Antonio, have also recently done away with the nostalgic rides.
But carriage industry leaders said the fatal crash underscores the need for better protections, not outright elimination of the quaint attraction that harkens back to a romanticized, bygone New York.
鈥淲e鈥檙e absolutely gutted and stunned by this tragedy,鈥� said Alexander Kemp, a vice president with the Transport Workers Union Local 100, the labor union representing carriage drivers and owners. 鈥淲e have shuttered the stables and ceased operations today while we have extensive internal discussions of safety protocols and how they can be improved.鈥�
Horse carriages weren鈥檛 running Thursday and it was not immediately clear when the rides, which cost about $72 for the first 20 minutes, would resume.
The owner of the carriage involved in the fatal crash also suspended the driver indefinitely, and has plans to retire the horse from the business, according to the union. It said the driver improperly dismounted to take a photograph of his passengers.
Celebrating a high school graduation turned tragic
Mahajan had been on a family trip celebrating his recent high school graduation when the family decided to take a ride on one of the park鈥檚 often photographed, richly decorated carriages.
His father, Deepak Mahajan, The New York Times the family had arrived from India on Monday, the same day Romanch learned he had been accepted to a university in Jaipur.
They had spent the trip visiting many of the city鈥檚 popular tourist attractions, including the Statue of Liberty and the Brooklyn Bridge.
The carriage driver hopped off to take a photograph of the family near a fountain when the horse suddenly bolted, Mahajan said.
Romanch鈥檚 mother fell out of the carriage, and the teen jumped out in an attempt to save her, according to his father.
鈥淗e was screaming, 鈥楳om!鈥欌�� Deepak Mahajan recounted to the Times.
But Romanch hit his head on the ground before the carriage clipped another horse-drawn vehicle and eventually . The father, his wife and younger son escaped with minor injuries.
鈥淭his incident should be taken very seriously,鈥� Mahajan said. 鈥淚t took my son鈥檚 dream away.鈥�
Carriage owners and drivers fear end to livelihood
New York City leaders vowed to work swiftly to end the industry in the wake of Romanch’s death.
City Council Speaker Julie Menin said the legislative body would hold a hearing next month on a long-simmering bill that would ban horse carriages and help drivers transition into new jobs.
Last year, the park conservancy over the carriages when, for the first time, it threw its support behind what鈥檚 known as .
鈥淭he time to act is now,鈥� she wrote on the social platform X.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani also reiterated his support for ending the industry, saying he鈥檇 work with the council, the industry and animal welfare advocates to 鈥渄eliver a just transition that protects workers while ending horse-drawn carriages in Central Park once and for all.鈥�
Other recent mayors have made similar pronouncements. Mayor Bill de Blasio the industry 鈥渙n Day One” in office, only to come up against . Mayor Eric Adams, Mamdani鈥檚 predecessor, came out against the industry of his single term.
Onur Altintas, who owns four horses and a carriage operating in Central Park, was among those worried about an end to their livelihood. He said the industry provides hundreds of jobs to drivers, stable hands, farriers, and others in horse-related trades.
鈥淲e are sad about what happened. Nobody wants that. But it鈥檚 not like this is happening every day,鈥� said Altintas. 鈥淐ar crashes and plane crashes are happening every single day. One horse makes an accident, and the world is destroyed? Come on.鈥�
The longtime owner and driver said the industry needs better regulations to make it safer. He said 鈥�90%鈥� of horse-related accidents could be avoided simply by installing hitching posts throughout the park so drivers could safely tether and secure their horses, including at popular tourist photo stops.
The Transport Workers Union on Thursday said into the council would do just that.
鈥淒rivers can鈥檛 leave their carriage. They have to be on it all the time,鈥� Altintas said. 鈥淏ut it鈥檚 impossible. We have to go to the restroom. We have to eat. We have to do things.鈥�
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Ramer reported from Concord, New Hampshire.
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