Council and Mayor push carriage ban while union defends industry
Lawmakers move to ban carriages; union proposes safety alternatives instead.
Event / Disaster
Central Park Carriage Accident
An 18-year-old Indian tourist died in New York City after being thrown from a runaway horse-drawn carriage in Central Park on June 18, 2026. The incident prompted a safety review and reignited debate over the future of the carriage industry.
2 reported locations
Daily activity
0 articles0 articles
2026-08-16 to 2026-11-13 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 20 Jun, 02:34 UTC
Follow the documented timeline or explore the related reporting.
What happened
City Council Speaker announces hearings on bill to ban horse-drawn carriages from Central Park
New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin announced that the council will hold hearings in July on Ryder's Law, which would ban horse-drawn carriages from Central Park starting in 2028. The bill, named after a horse that died in 2022, includes provisions requiring humane disposition of carriage horses and workforce training programs to help drivers transition to new jobs. As of Friday, the bill had 14 sponsors.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani pledges to end horse-drawn carriage industry in Central Park
Mayor Zohran Mamdani reiterated his support for ending the horse-drawn carriage industry in Central Park, stating he would work with the city council, the industry and animal welfare advocates to deliver a just transition that protects workers while ending horse-drawn carriages in the park. This follows similar pledges by previous mayors, including Bill de Blasio who vowed to shut down the industry on his first day in office but faced years of council opposition.
Transport Workers Union proposes alternative safety measures to preserve carriage industry
The Transport Workers Union proposed Intro 937, a bill that would implement safety improvements rather than eliminate horse-drawn carriages. The bill calls for hitching posts throughout Central Park where drivers could tether and secure horses at all times, including at popular tourist photo stops. The union also supports regular in-park safety checks, driver licensing enforcement, and proper carriage handling protocols to reduce accidents.
Central Park Conservancy documents eight horse-related incidents in 13 months
The Central Park Conservancy reported eight horse-related incidents in the park over the past 13 months, including one incident in January where a horse ran into traffic and struck several cars. One week before Mahajan's fatal accident, another horse had eaten a poisonous plant, collapsed in the park and died. These incidents have prompted calls from the conservancy and animal welfare groups to suspend or ban the carriage industry.
Carriage driver suspended and horse retired following fatal accident
Following the fatal accident, the driver of the carriage was suspended from operations. The horse involved, which had only been in the park for six weeks, was retired from service.
Horse-drawn carriage rides suspended in Central Park following fatal accident
Transport Workers Union Local 100 suspended all horse-drawn carriage operations in Central Park following the fatal accident. The union announced the suspension would continue through at least Tuesday while safety protocols are reviewed. During the suspension, drivers will participate in training sessions on safety rules and carriage operations, including how to maintain control of horses. The horses will continue to be exercised outside their barns during the suspension.
18-year-old tourist dies after being thrown from runaway horse-drawn carriage in Central Park
Romanch Mahajan, an 18-year-old tourist from India, died after being thrown from a runaway horse-drawn carriage in Central Park. The carriage's horse took off while the driver was out taking photographs. Mahajan jumped from the carriage to help his mother who had fallen out. He was pronounced dead at the hospital with blunt force trauma ruled as the cause of death. This is believed to be the first fatal passenger accident in the 150+ year history of horse-drawn carriages in Central Park.
Read the coverage
2 alternative perspectives
Central Park suspends horse carriage rides following fatal accident
Central Park suspends carriage rides after fatal accident and eight documented incidents.
Tourist dies after thrown from runaway carriage in Central Park
Tourist dies after thrown from runaway carriage; driver suspended, horse retired.