Full Breakdown
Family Files $105 Million Claim Over Fatal Central Park Carriage Ride
8/19/2026, 3:15:21 AM
Fatal Incident and Legal Claim
On June 17, 2025, 18-year-old Romanch Mahajan was killed after a horse-drawn carriage in Central Park bolted while his family posed for a photograph. The horse, Sampson, fled, the carriage overturned, and Mahajan struck his head on the pavement, later dying at NewYork-Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medical Center. Four notices of claim have been filed on behalf of Mahajan, his parents Deepak and Friya Mahajan, and his brother Naanik, seeking a combined $105 million from New York City.
Legislative Background
The tragedy revived a long-standing debate over horse-drawn carriages. A 2024 proposal to ban the rides by June 1, 2026 was defeated by the City Council’s Health Committee in November 2025. On June 11, Council Member Christopher Marte introduced a revised version that would phase out the industry by June 1, 2028. The revised bill, now dubbed “Romanch’s Law,” has the backing of Council Speaker Julie Menin and is expected to be brought before the City Council for a vote soon.
Claims and Allegations
The Mahajan family’s notices name the City, the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, the Department of Transportation, the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, and utility provider Con Edison. They contend that stray electrical voltage near the Cherry Hill Fountain spooked the horse.
Official Responses
- Con Edison: Acknowledged detection of low stray-voltage readings on July 16 and July 23, and stated the source was not its equipment.
- New York City Law Department: Declined comment, indicating the filings are under review.
- Council Speaker Julie Menin: Described the death as “heartbreaking” and “preventable,” urging passage of the proposed ban.
Criticism & Opposition
- PETA – Director Ashley Byrne called for an immediate ban, stating that repeated horse-related incidents demonstrate the need to remove the rides for safety and animal-welfare reasons.
- Councilmember James Gennaro (Queens) acknowledged the tragedy as “unthinkable” but attributed it to human error rather than the carriage industry, proposing safety-focused legislation such as mandatory hitching posts and enhanced driver training instead of a full ban.
Data & Statistics
- $105 million sought in damages across four notices of claim.
- Six city agencies are named in the filings.
- Con Edison recorded stray-voltage readings on July 16 and July 23.
- The Central Park Conservancy reports eight horse-related incidents in a 13-month span, underscoring ongoing safety concerns.
Verbatim Quotes
- “If the city had passed the law last year, our son would still be alive today,” — Deepak Mahajan
- “EAGLES FAN, 18, DIES AFTER FALL FROM LIGHT POLE DURING CELEBRATION "His death was heartbreaking, and it was preventable," Menin wrote in a statement to support and rename the bill.” — Council Speaker Julie Menin
- “These incidents demonstrate that it’s time to chart a better path forward that addresses animal welfare and public safety, and also ensures the livelihood and economic prosperity of the workers,” — Council Speaker Julie Menin
- “My son, just to save his mother, he fell off,” — Deepak
What’s Next
The revised ban, “Romanch’s Law,” is slated for a City Council vote in the coming weeks. If enacted, the legislation would begin phasing out horse-drawn carriages by June 1, 2028, ending a practice that has operated in Manhattan for more than a century.
