An 18-year-old Indian tourist was killed in Central Park on Wednesday when an unattended horse spooked and bolted from a carriage ride the family had booked during their first trip to the United States, authorities said.
Romanch Mahajan, of India, his parents and his 11-year-old brother had arrived in New York City just three days earlier for what was supposed to be a dream vacation in America, according to family members who spoke with the New York Post. The family had booked a horse-drawn carriage ride through Central Park to take in iconic city sights when tragedy struck.
Background
The Mahajan family's outing turned catastrophic near Columbus Circle when their driver, Ertan Gokdepe, asked the group to return to the carriage so he could take their photograph, family member Sovia Thukral told the Post. As the family posed for pictures, the horse—named Sampson—began inching forward.
Thukral said her nephew's mother, Priya, fell off the buggy first as Gokdepe attempted to restrain the animal. Romanch Mahajan saw his mother falling and tried to help her.
"And then my nephew, he saw his mom falling off and he said mama and by the time he could pick up himself, control his body to jump, he fell off from the carriage," Thukral recalled. The father managed to hold his younger son tightly "like a seatbelt" as chaos erupted.
Thukral said Romanch Mahajan was about to begin studying at one of India's top universities—a fact the family learned on their first day in New York. She characterized her nephew's death as "totally negligence."
The Investigation
New York City police responded to the scene and found Mahajan unresponsive after being thrown from the carriage. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital.
The Transport Workers Union of America Local 100 ordered an immediate "safety stand-down" Friday, suspending all horse and carriage operations in Central Park through Tuesday. Drivers are required to attend meetings reviewing safety protocols, including requirements to secure and maintain control of carriage horses at all times.
Sampson has been retired following the incident. The family said they were unaware that regulations prohibit leaving horses unattended with passengers nearby.
"Have we known that this is the rule—that they're not supposed to leave the horse unattended—we would have never agreed to it," Thukral said.
Thukral said Romanch's father called her from Central Park in a panic immediately after the tragedy, his voice wavering and barely able to speak as he explained his son was not responding.
"They are very devastated," she said. "Imagine they just come to visit and it's their first time in America and they never expected that this is what they're going to face."
Key Takeaways
- Romanch Mahajan, 18, from India was killed Wednesday during a Central Park horse carriage ride with his family
- The family arrived in New York City three days earlier for their first trip to the United States
- Police say the horse Sampson spooked and bolted while the driver posed the family for photographs
- All Central Park horse and carriage operations suspended until Tuesday following a union-ordered safety stand-down
- Mahajan was set to attend one of India's top universities after learning of his acceptance during the trip
What's Next
City officials are expected to review horse carriage regulations as animal activists and lawmakers renewed calls for an outright ban on the Central Park carriage industry. The NYPD's Highway District is investigating the incident. No criminal charges had been announced as of Friday.
The family said they are working with attorneys as they grieve their devastating loss in a city half a world away from home.