Teen Tourist Dies After Driver Leaves Carriage in Central Park
Police and sources told the New York Post that a carriage driver stepped away to take passenger photos in Central Park before teenage tourist Romanch Mahajan was thrown and later died.
Reported by press, not yet linked to NYC police crash records. This may change when new official records become available or when matching details are reviewed.
Location under review
What We Know
Romanch Mahajan, a teenage tourist from India, died after a Central Park carriage ride turned fatal near 71st Street and Centre Drive. The New York Post reported that police and sources said the carriage driver had stepped away to take a photo of passengers when the horse became spooked and took off. Sources said Mahajan was thrown from the carriage and hit his head; he was taken to Weill Cornell Medical Center, where he later died. TWU Local 100 said a driver should never leave a carriage to take photos and called for a full investigation, enhanced training and tougher exams.
A photo stop turned into a fatal carriage ride
The New York Post reported that Romanch Mahajan was riding in a carriage with a group from India near 71st Street and Centre Drive around 2:45 p.m. when the coachman left his post to take a photo of the passengers. Police and sources said the horse became spooked and took off while the driver was at least an arm's length away.
Sources said Mahajan was thrown from the carriage and hit his head. He was taken to Weill Cornell Medical Center, where he later died. Two other passengers did not report injuries, according to the article.
The crash happened inside Central Park
The reported scene was near 71st Street and Centre Drive in Central Park. Sources told the New York Post that the operator caught up to the horse farther south near Tavern on the Green.
The union said drivers should not leave carriages for photos
TWU Local 100 Administrative Vice President Alexander Kemp called the reported conduct unacceptable, saying a driver is not supposed to leave a carriage to take photos. Kemp said the union supported a full investigation, enhanced driver training, tougher examinations with a practical component and rules for introducing new horses into the business.
The horse was reported uninjured
Police and the union said Sampson, the 7-year-old horse, appeared to be in stable condition and uninjured after the incident.
Press Articles
Source Data
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- NYC police crash record not linked