Tragic Incident in Central Park: Indian Teenager Loses Life in Horse Carriage Accident

A Heartbreaking Accident in New York City

New York: A tragic event unfolded in Central Park when an Indian teenager lost his life while attempting to rescue his mother, who had been thrown from a horse-drawn carriage after the horse unexpectedly bolted.

Eighteen-year-old Romanch Mahajan was visiting New York for the first time with his family when the incident occurred on Wednesday, as reported by a local news outlet.

The carriage driver had paused to capture a family photo when the horse suddenly took off, veering onto the sidewalk and speeding across the grass, with the driver in pursuit.

Romanch's father, Deepak Mahajan, recounted the chaos, stating, 'We were shouting, 'Help me, help me!' as the situation escalated.

Despite their efforts to stay together, when Romanch's mother, Priya, fell from the carriage, he jumped down to assist her.

'My son fell off just to save his mother,' Deepak shared, recalling Romanch's desperate cries of 'Mom!'

Witness Tatianna Bresler, who works nearby, described how the frightened horse ran at an alarming speed, prompting her to call 911 upon witnessing the crash.

A bystander managed to slow the runaway horse before the carriage overturned, but Romanch suffered a severe head injury and remained unresponsive.

He tragically passed away later that night at NewYork-Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medical Center, according to reports.

The rest of the family, including Romanch's younger brother, sustained minor injuries, although their carriage collided with another, resulting in significant damage.

This incident adds to a troubling pattern of accidents involving horse-drawn carriages.

The union representing carriage drivers expressed that such an event should never have occurred, emphasizing that the driver should not have left the carriage unattended for photos.

The driver, whose identity has not been disclosed, has been suspended indefinitely by the carriage owner.

In the wake of this tragedy, there are renewed calls to prohibit horse carriages in the park, where over 100 carriage horses operate in Manhattan.

City Councilman Christopher Marte, who has proposed a bill to ban carriages by the end of next year, stated, 'We cannot allow this to be treated as another isolated incident.'

He urged the Council to respond with the urgency that this tragedy warrants.

The park conservancy noted that there have been eight horse-related incidents in or around the park since May 2025, including a recent occurrence where a horse collided with another carriage, causing it to tip over.