New York City leaders including Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Thursday vowed to work to put an end to the 150-year-old horse carriage industry in the wake of a teenager’s death.
Romanch Mahajan, 18, was killed when a Central Park carriage horse bolted from its driver while he was on a family trip celebrating his high school graduation.
Mahajan jumped out of the carriage after his mother fell out and he hit his head on the ground, his father, Deepak Mahajan, told The New York Times.
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“He was screaming, ‘Mom!’” the young man’s father told the newspaper. Mahajan said he, his wife and younger son escaped with minor injuries, though their carriage clipped another horse-drawn vehicle and toppled over.
City Council leaders said they would hold a hearing next month on Ryder’s Law, the bill backed by the conservancy.
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“The time to act is now,” Council Speaker Julie Menin posted on social media.