Indian Teenager Dies in Central Park Carriage Accident While Saving Mother

Romanch Mahajan (Images/X)

An 18-year-old Indian teenager, Romanch Mahajan died after falling from a horse-drawn carriage in New York's Central Park while trying to save his mother. Police said the incident took place during a family carriage ride when the driver stepped away to take a photograph of the group. In that moment, the horse suddenly bolted, struck another carriage and toppled over, leading to a chain of events that resulted in the teenager's death. According to his father, Romanch attempted to save his mother after she fell from the carriage as it began to overturn. In the chaos, he jumped down to help her but suffered a fatal head injury. The teenager was rushed to New York-Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medical Center, where he was declared dead later that night. The rest of the family sustained minor injuries, according to The New York Times.

The Mahajan family, visiting New York from India on a vacation marking Romanch's recent high school graduation, had been touring major landmarks including the Statue of Liberty, 9/11 Memorial and Brooklyn Bridge before the Central Park carriage ride. The accident occurred near Cherry Hill in Central Park, where the family had stopped for a photograph. The carriage driver had stepped away from the horse to take a family picture, police said.

'The driver stepped away from the red-and-white carriage to frame the shot. "We were yelling, ‘Help me, help me!’" said Romanch’s father, Deepak Mahajan. He said that when his wife fell from the carriage as the horse bolted, Romanch jumped down in an attempt to help her. "My son, just to save his mother, he fell off. He was screaming, ‘Mom!’," his father said. Romanch hit his head on the ground and became unconscious. Despite emergency treatment, he was pronounced dead later that evening. The carriage, meanwhile, continued moving uncontrollably, clipping another carriage before overturning and breaking apart, according to witnesses and officials.

The driver’s action of stepping away from the horse has come under sharp criticism from the carriage drivers’ union. "It appears the driver was at least at arm’s length from his horse. This is unacceptable. A driver is not supposed to leave the carriage to take photos — ever. We support a full investigation," said Alexander Kemp, vice president of Transport Workers Union Local 100. The union also confirmed that the horse involved, a seven-year-old named Sampson, appeared uninjured and would be retired from service. The driver has been suspended pending investigation.

The incident has sparked renewed calls from lawmakers and animal welfare activists to ban horse-drawn carriages in Central Park, citing repeated safety incidents involving both horses and visitors. "These incidents are not isolated. We must pass Ryder’s Law, end this outdated industry, and ensure a just transition for workers," said New York City Council member Shahana Hanif. Another council member, Harvey Epstein, said he was 'horrified' by the incident. "Time and again, we are seeing both horses and people suffer the consequences of an industry that poses serious risks to public safety and animal welfare," he said. Under the proposed Ryder’s Law, the city would stop issuing new carriage licences and phase out the rides over two years. The Central Park Conservancy said it was devastated by the death. "A young man came to enjoy our park and lost his life. That is not an acceptable cost of an antiquated industry operating in the middle of one of the most heavily used public spaces in America," it said.

The Mahajan family said the tragedy had shattered what was meant to be a celebratory trip to mark Romanch’s recent admission to Manipal University Jaipur. "This was supposed to be a once-in-a-lifetime family trip. This incident took my son’s dream away," his father said.