Overview
- The crash happened when the carriage driver stepped away to take a photograph and the horse, named Sampson, bolted; the carriage hit another vehicle, overturned, and 18‑year‑old Romanch Mahajan later died at NewYork‑Presbyterian Weill Cornell.
- The Transport Workers Union Local 100 immediately closed the stables and suspended carriage operations while the carriage owner suspended the driver and removed Sampson from service.
- Hours after the accident, Central Park Conservancy and animal‑welfare groups pointed to eight related incidents since May 2025 and urged a suspension or ban of rides pending a full investigation.
- City leaders moved quickly to act: Council Speaker Julie Menin scheduled public consideration of the Ryder bill for July to weigh a phase‑out or strict new rules for the industry.
- The death puts pressure on regulators to define practical safety changes such as stricter driver competency tests, better training, secure tie‑points for horses, and plans to protect drivers’ livelihoods during any transition.