UMVA has learned that a tragic accident in New York City's Central Park has claimed the life of an 18-year-old tourist who was visiting from India with his family.
Romanch Mahajan was killed on Wednesday when he fell from a horse-drawn carriage after the horse suddenly bolted away from its handler, who had stopped to take a photo of Mahajan and his family. The teen's desperate attempt to save his mother, who had fallen from the carriage, ultimately led to his fatal fall.
According to information obtained by UMVA, Mahajan's family was in the Big Apple celebrating his recent high school graduation. His father, Deepak Mahajan, recounted the harrowing events to investigators, revealing that his son had jumped into action to protect his mother.
The out-of-control carriage careened through the popular mid-Manhattan park, colliding with a second carriage and sending both horses to the ground. Mahajan landed on his head, succumbing to his injuries, while his mother, father, and younger brother managed to escape with minor injuries.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that Mahajan is believed to be the first person killed by a horse-drawn carriage accident in Central Park. The incident has sent shockwaves through the community, prompting an immediate response from the Transport Workers Union (TWU) Local 100, which represents the 300 horse-drawn carriage drivers in Central Park.
The union has announced that carriage rides through Central Park have been halted pending an investigation, and that the driver involved in the accident has been indefinitely suspended. The horse involved in the crash will be retired from service, and the union has vowed to revisit safety protocols to prevent such tragedies in the future.
A bill currently making its way through New York City Council aims to mandate the installation of hitching posts throughout the park, allowing drivers to secure their horses and permitting tourists a safe means to take photos. The union has reiterated its support for this legislation, which could help prevent similar accidents in the future.
