A teenaged tourist has been killed after a horse was spooked in Central Park, New York City. According to the New York Post, the tragic incident happened on Wednesday, June 17.
The horse was pulling a carriage through Central Park when the operator got out of the carriage to take a scenic picture of the group. The driver was "at least an arm's length" from his horse, but this didn't stop it from becoming spooked.
One bystander, Tatianna Bresler, who works at the local Tavern on the Green, said that "The horse got scared and ran super fast." Upon hearing screaming and witnessing the crash, she immediately called 911.
She added that "The immediate reaction was just like 'Oh my God, oh my God', like covering my eyes because I thought maybe someone had gotten smushed or something I couldn't even imagine."
The teenager was named as Romanch Mahajan. Him and his family were visiting New York from India. Mahajan was thrown from the carriage and hit his head.
He was taken to Weill Cornell Medical Center, where he tragically died of his injuries. His specific cause of death has not yet been revealed. The other two passengers of the carriage did not report suffering any injuries.
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The Carriage Driver Was Criticized For "Unacceptable" Conduct
The carriage driver managed to catch up to the horse a little further up Central Park.
But the TWU Local administrative VP, Alexander Kemp, explained that the carriage operator was in the wrong. "This is unacceptable," he said. "A driver is not supposed to leave the carriage to take photos - ever. We support a full investigation."
He also added that "It's our understanding that the carriage owner has suspended the driver indefinitely and the horse will be retired from the business."
He also took the opportunity to call out safety problems present in Central Park. "Safety in the park has been a growing concern among many, and improvements are needed to be made with respect to all vehicles, including e-bicycles, delivery vehicles, pedicabs, and horse-drawn carriages."
This is a truly tragic situation. Rest in peace to Romanch Mahajan, our thoughts are with his family and friends during this tragic time.
