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A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC. Gothamist Listen Live Donate News Family says stray voltage may have contributed to fatal Central Park carriage crash By Phil Corso and Ryan Kost Published Aug 16, 2026 at 3:41 p.m. ET
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The family of an 18-year-old tourist killed in a runaway horse carriage accident in Central Park alleges stray electrical voltage may have contributed to the horse becoming agitated and bolting, according to legal filings obtained by Gothamist.
Romanch Mahajan was visiting New York from India with his family when the horse pulling their carriage bolted near the Cherry Hill Fountain in June. Mahajan died after falling from the carriage, officials said.
Four notices of claim filed on behalf of Mahajan’s estate and family members seek a combined $105 million from New York City — a step required before they can sue the city.
The filings accuse the city and several agencies of failing to adequately regulate the carriage industry and address safety hazards in Central Park. They allege that stray voltage near the fountain may have contributed to the horse becoming agitated and running off.
“This was an avoidable accident,” Sagar Chadha, an attorney representing the family, said in a statement Sunday.
A spokesperson for the city Law Department declined to comment Sunday.
Mahajan’s death has intensified a decadeslong fight over horse-drawn carriages. City Council Speaker Julie Menin and Mayor Zohran Mamdani have said they support ending the industry, and a Council bill, Romanch’s Law, would phase out horse-drawn carriage rides by June 2028.
Phil Corso is the evening news editor at WNYC/Gothamist. Got a tip? Email [email protected] .
Ryan Kost is a reporter on the day-of news desk, where he covers breaking news and writes enterprise stories about jails, courts, prosecutors and government accountability. His work focuses on the public institutions that shape life in New York. Before joining the newsroom, he lead a multi-part investigation with Columbia Journalism Investigations and New York Focus into how New York prosecutors handle wrongful conviction claims. He's also been a staff writer at The San Francisco Chronicle, The Associated Press and The Oregonian. Got a tip? Signal: ryankost.20
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