In brief
An 18‑year‑old tourist from India was killed when he fell from a horse‑drawn carriage in Central Park. The driver had stepped away to snap a photo, prompting the horse to bolt, collide with another carriage, and tumble. The victim was later pronounced dead in hospital while the other passengers were unharmed. The incident has sparked calls from the union, city mayor and council members to investigate and potentially phase out horse‑drawn carriage rides under the proposed Ryder’s Law, amidst ongoing concerns about safety and animal welfare.
An 18‑year‑old tourist from India was killed when he fell from a horse‑drawn carriage in Central Park, police said.
The rider was suspended when the carriage driver left his horse to take a photograph of the group, causing the horse to bolt, clip another carriage and overturn, footage showed.
The injured teen was transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The other three passengers were not badly hurt.
Transport Workers Union Local 100’s Alexander Kemp condemned the driver’s actions, calling the incident “unacceptable” and demanding a full investigation.
The tragedy follows the death of a carriage horse, Deniz, earlier this week after ingesting a toxic plant in Central Park, and has intensified calls for ending the horse‑drawn carriage industry.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani and City Council members Shahana Hanif and Harvey Epstein urged the city to phase out carriage rides under the proposed “Ryder’s Law” and to protect both people and animals.
The incident highlights longstanding safety and welfare concerns that critics have pointed to since the wars of horse‑drawn carriages began in the park.
