An 18‑year‑old tourist from India was riding in a horse‑drawn carriage in Central Park when the driver stepped away to take a photo. The horse bolted, clipped another carriage and toppled over, sending the teenager plummeting to the ground.
The boy was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead. The other three passengers were not injured enough to require treatment.
“It appears the driver was at least at arm’s length from his horse,” said Alexander Kemp, a vice president of the Transport Workers Union Local 100. “This is unacceptable… we support a full investigation.”
The tragedy came a week after a carriage horse named Deniz died after eating a toxic plant. The incident fuels calls for ending the horse‑drawn carriage industry. Mayor Zohran Mamdani has expressed support for removing the carriages from the park.
City Council member Shahana Hanif urged: “These incidents are not isolated. We must pass Ryder’s Law, end this outdated industry, and ensure a just transition for workers.”
Under the bill, New York would stop issuing new carriage licences and phase out rides over two years.
