18-Year-Old Tourist’s Central Park Death Leads To Lawsuit

CENTRAL PARK, NY— The family of an 18-year-old tourist killed in a Central Park horse carriage crash plans to sue the City of New York, alleging officials failed to address safety concerns they believe contributed to his death.

Romanch Mahajan, who was visiting New York City from India with his family for the first time, fell from a horse-drawn carriage when the animal bolted during a photo stop. He struck his head on the pavement and later died on June 17.

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Attorney Ali Najmi said, during a press conference on Monday, that the family will file a wrongful death lawsuit by the end of the week.

What Happened During The Central Park Crash?

Mahajan and his family were riding in a Central Park carriage when the driver stepped away from the carriage seat to take a photograph of them, according to the family.

While they posed near Cherry Hill Fountain, the horse suddenly ran.

Mahajan was thrown from the carriage and suffered a fatal head injury.

The crash marked the first horse carriage-related death in Central Park in at least 50 years, according to city officials.

What Happens Next With The City Council Bill?

The lawsuit comes as Mahajan's family backs a City Council proposal that would end horse-drawn carriage rides in Central Park by June 2028, and replace the industry with other forms of employment for drivers.

The measure, now known as Romanch's Law, was previously called Ryder's Law, named after a 2022 incident involving a carriage horse named Ryder.

Ryder collapsed in Hell's Kitchen on Aug. 10, 2022, after working in New York City during hot weather, and was later euthanized after veterinarians found he had serious health issues, including cancer.

"We as a family hope that his legacy can continue," his father, Deepak, said. "He sacrificed his life for the lives of the animals and all the living beings on this planet. Just remember Romanch. That's it."

The proposal has faced opposition from the Transport Workers Union, which represents horse-carriage drivers and has argued that a ban would threaten workers' livelihoods.

The union launched an attack ad targeting City Council Speaker Julie Menin after she backed the measure, accusing her of abandoning carriage drivers.

"Thank you for the betrayal, Julie," the ad says, accusing Menin of eliminating about 200 industry jobs and abandoning carriage workers.

The 30-second ad criticizes Menin's personal wealth, while supporters of the legislation argue the industry should be replaced with safer alternatives.

Council Member Chris Marte said officials had warned for years about safety concerns surrounding the carriages.

"This was all foreseeable," Marte said Monday at a vigil for Mahajan. "For over a decade, we knew this would happen. Even when I introduced the bill, I said, 'Are we going to wait until someone passes away to take action?' Unfortunately, that's what took place."

The City Council is expected to vote next month on the carriage ban proposal.