Lawmakers Call for Horse Carriage Ban After Teen's Tragic Death

WHO:

ABC News - The deceased teenager was Romanch Mahajan, 18, from India.

ABC News - His father is Deepak Mahajan.

ABC News - The Transport Workers Union Local 100 represents carriage drivers and owners.

ABC News - New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani supports ending the horse carriage industry.

ABC News - City Council Speaker Julie Menin is involved in the legislative response.

WHAT:

ABC News - The Central Park Conservancy confirmed that Mahajan's death was the first human fatality involving a horse carriage since their introduction in Central Park more than 150 years ago.

AP News - The Central Park Conservancy stated that Mahajan's death was the eighth horse-related incident in Central Park over the past 13 months.

ABC News - The Transport Workers Union announced that horse-drawn carriage rides in Central Park will not resume until Tuesday following the incident.

AP News - The Central Park Conservancy stated that Mahajan's death was the eighth horse-related incident in Central Park over the past 13 months.

ABC News - The Transport Workers Union Local 100 stated that they have shuttered the stables and ceased operations while discussing safety protocols.

AP News - The Central Park Conservancy confirmed that Mahajan's death was the eighth horse-related incident in Central Park over the past 13 months.

CNN - The owner of the carriage involved in the fatal crash has plans to retire the horse from the business.

NY Post - Legislation to ban horse carriages is gaining bipartisan momentum in the New York City Council following the accident.

ABC News - The family had spent the trip visiting many of the city’s popular tourist attractions, including the Statue of Liberty and the Brooklyn Bridge.

AP News - The Central Park Conservancy manages the 843-acre (341-hectare) park.

ABC News - The Transport Workers Union has backed legislation introduced last week that would establish hitching posts throughout the park for safely tethering horses.

ABC News - The Mahajan family was celebrating Romanch's high school graduation during their trip.

ABC News - The carriage driver dismounted to take a photograph of the family near a fountain when the horse bolted.

AP News - The Central Park Conservancy confirmed that Mahajan's death is believed to be the first human fatality involving a horse carriage since their introduction in Central Park more than 150 years ago.

AP News - The Transport Workers Union Local 100 stated that they have shuttered the stables and ceased operations while discussing safety protocols.

AP News - The horse carriage rides, which cost about $72 for the first 20 minutes, were not running following the incident.

Gothamist - A horse carriage crash in Central Park resulted in the death of a teenager.

ABC News - Romanch Mahajan died after jumping out of a carriage to save his mother.

ABC News - The Central Park Conservancy stated that Mahajan's death is the first tourist fatality from a horse carriage incident in at least a century.

ABC News - The horse carriage company suspended the driver indefinitely and will retire the horse involved in the crash.

ABC News - The Central Park Conservancy called for the suspension of the horse carriage industry until more safety measures are implemented.

ABC News - There have been eight horse-related incidents in Central Park over the past 13 months.

ABC News - The City Council plans to hold a hearing next month on Ryder's Law, a bill aimed at banning horse carriages.

WHERE:

Gothamist - The incident occurred in Central Park, New York City.

ABC News - The Mahajan family arrived in New York from India.

WHEN:

ABC News - The Mahajan family arrived in New York on the same day Romanch learned of his university acceptance.

ABC News - The City Council hearing on Ryder's Law is scheduled for next month.

WHY:

ABC News - City Council Speaker Julie Menin emphasized, “The time to act is now,” regarding the legislative push to ban horse carriages.

AP News - Edita Birnkrant, head of New Yorkers for Clean, Livable, and Safe Streets, stated, “The record is undeniable: crashes, runaways, horse deaths, injuries, and now a devastating loss of human life.”

CNN - City Council Speaker Julie Menin emphasized, “The time to act is now,” regarding the legislative push to ban horse carriages.

ABC News - Mayor Zohran Mamdani stated he would work with the council, the industry, and animal welfare advocates to “deliver a just transition that protects workers while ending horse-drawn carriages in Central Park once and for all.”

ABC News - The Central Park Conservancy argued that if any other activity in the park posed a comparable risk to visitors, it would be suspended immediately while addressing those dangers.

ABC News - The calls to ban horse-drawn carriages were renewed following the tragic death of Romanch Mahajan.

ABC News - The Central Park Conservancy argues that horse carriages pose a public safety hazard.

HOW:

ABC News - The horse carriage driver got off to photograph the family, leading to the accident.

AP News - Onur Altintas, a carriage owner, claimed that “90%” of horse-related accidents could be avoided by installing hitching posts throughout the park.

ABC News - The driver had dismounted to take a photograph of his passengers, which they are not supposed to do.

AP News - Onur Altintas, a carriage owner, suggested that “90%” of horse-related accidents could be avoided by installing hitching posts throughout the park for safely tethering horses.

ABC News - The horse carriage driver got off to photograph the family, leading to the accident.

(UPDATED June 19, 2026 21:19 UTC)

The Central Park Conservancy has confirmed that the recent death of Mahajan marks the first human fatality involving a horse carriage in Central Park's history, which spans over 150 years. This tragic incident is also noted as the eighth horse-related occurrence in the park within the last 13 months, prompting the Transport Workers Union to announce that horse-drawn carriage rides will remain suspended until Tuesday. City Council Speaker Julie Menin has called for immediate action to ban horse carriages, while Edita Birnkrant from New Yorkers for Clean, Livable, and Safe Streets highlighted the alarming trend of accidents and injuries related to these rides.

(UPDATED June 19, 2026 19:26 UTC)

The Transport Workers Union has announced that horse-drawn carriage rides in Central Park will remain suspended until Tuesday following a recent incident. This comes after the Central Park Conservancy reported that the death of a horse marks the eighth horse-related incident in the park over the past 13 months, prompting City Council Speaker Julie Menin to stress that “the time to act is now” in the push for a legislative ban on horse carriages. In response, carriage owner Onur Altintas suggested that installing hitching posts throughout the park could prevent “90%” of these accidents.

(UPDATED June 19, 2026 12:19 UTC)

The Transport Workers Union Local 100 has announced the closure of stables and a halt to operations while they review safety protocols following a recent incident. The Central Park Conservancy confirmed that this tragic event marks the eighth horse-related incident in the park over the past 13 months, prompting the owner of the involved carriage to plan for the horse's retirement from the business. In response to these events, Mayor Zohran Mamdani expressed his commitment to collaborating with the city council, industry stakeholders, and animal welfare advocates to ensure a transition that protects workers while ultimately ending horse-drawn carriages in Central Park.

(UPDATED June 19, 2026 01:55 UTC)

A tragic incident in Central Park has raised concerns about safety, as the driver of a horse-drawn carriage dismounted to take a photograph of his passengers, which is against the rules. Edita Birnkrant, head of New Yorkers for Clean, Livable, and Safe Streets, emphasized the alarming statistics surrounding horse-drawn carriages, citing a history of crashes, injuries, and even fatalities. In response, the Transport Workers Union is supporting new legislation aimed at establishing hitching posts throughout the park to help ensure the safety of both horses and visitors.

(UPDATED June 18, 2026 23:37 UTC)

Tragedy struck in Central Park when a horse carriage incident led to the death of Romanch Mahajan, who was celebrating his high school graduation with family. This marks the first human fatality involving a horse carriage in the park's history, prompting the Transport Workers Union Local 100 to shut down operations and discuss safety protocols. Advocates for safer streets are calling for immediate action, with suggestions like installing hitching posts to prevent future accidents, as the horse carriage rides, which typically cost about $72 for the first 20 minutes, remain suspended.

(UPDATED June 18, 2026 21:45 UTC)

A tragic horse carriage crash in Central Park has resulted in the death of 18-year-old Romanch Mahajan, who jumped out of the carriage to save his mother. This incident marks the first tourist fatality from a horse carriage accident in at least a century, prompting calls from the Central Park Conservancy to suspend the horse carriage industry until more safety measures are put in place. In response, the City Council plans to hold a hearing next month on Ryder's Law, a bill aimed at banning horse carriages altogether.