The serene ambiance of Central Park was shattered on Wednesday when a horse-drawn carriage bolted, resulting in a tragic accident that claimed the life of an 18-year-old tourist from India. The incident has once again brought the spotlight on the safety and ethical concerns surrounding the historic carriage industry in New York City.

The victim, identified as Romanch Mahajan, was riding in the carriage with three other passengers when the horse suddenly took off. Mahajan was thrown from the carriage and suffered a severe head injury. Despite being rushed to the hospital in critical condition, he succumbed to his injuries. The other passengers, fortunately, declined medical treatment.

The Accident and Its Immediate Aftermath

According to the Transport Workers Union (TWU)which represents carriage industry employees, the horse had been working in the park for only six weeks. The driver, who had stepped away from the carriage to take a photograph of the passengers, is not supposed to leave the carriage under any circumstances. The union has called for a full investigation into the incident.

Dramatic videos from the scene showed the carriage speeding through the park as the operator sprinted after it. Two passengers appeared to jump from the moving carriage. The runaway carriage later struck the wheel of another carriage and overturned. The driver eventually caught up with the horse near Tavern on the Green. The seven-year-old horse, named Sampson, was not injured and remained in stable condition.

Broader Safety Concerns in Central Park

The accident has intensified scrutiny of Central Park’s horse-drawn carriage industry, which has faced growing opposition from animal welfare activists and public safety advocates. It came less than a week after another carriage horse collapsed and died while working in the park.

Alexander Kemp, the administrative vice president of the TWU’s local chapter, raised broader safety concerns in Central Park. He stated that improvements were needed for all vehicles operating in the park, including e-bikes, delivery vehicles, pedicabs, and horse-drawn carriages. The carriage owner has indefinitely suspended the driver, and Sampson will be retired from the carriage business.

The Call for a Ban on Horse-Drawn Carriages

The Central Park Conservancy, the non-profit which operates the park, has renewed its call for New York City to ban horse-drawn carriages. The organization said the tragedy underscored the public safety risks posed by what it described as an outdated industry operating in one of the country’s busiest public spaces.

The conservancy urged city lawmakers to pass Ryder’s Law, legislation that would phase out horse-drawn carriages while providing alternative employment support for drivers. The bill, named after a carriage horse that collapsed while working in 2026, was reintroduced to the City Council on Thursday after failing to advance last year despite support from animal rights groups and former New York mayor Eric Adams.

The tragic incident in Central Park has once again brought the debate over the safety and humanity of horse-drawn carriages to the forefront. As the city grapples with the aftermath of this accident, the call for a ban on the historic industry grows louder.