The family of Romanch Mahajan, an 18-year-old tourist from India, has filed a $105 million lawsuit against the city of New York and several municipal agencies, alleging that a stray electrical current caused a Central Park horse-drawn carriage to bolt, resulting in the teenager's death.
Mahajan died in June after he jumped from the carriage to try and rescue his mother when the horse suddenly became agitated. He sustained a fatal head injury upon hitting the ground. The incident occurred on June 17 at Cherry Hill in Central Park when the carriage driver had stopped to take a photograph of the Mahajan family.
The lawsuit, filed on Friday, accuses the city and Con Edison of failing to maintain safety standards for the horse carriage industry and the park itself. The filing claims that a stray electrical voltage "caused, precipitated, contributed to and/or was a substantial factor in" the horse's agitation. Also named in the claim are the Departments of Parks and Recreation, Health and Mental Hygiene, Transportation, and Consumer and Worker Protection.
Con Edison stated that it observed very low levels of stray voltage on July 16 and July 23 but determined that neither instance originated from their equipment. Transport Workers Union vice president Alexander Kemp suggested in a statement that the revelation of utility failures raises serious questions about the incident and that it would be unfair to punish carriage drivers, many of whom are immigrants, without a full investigation.
Mahajan's family has been vocal in their criticism of the horse carriage industry and has advocated for a ban since their son's death. The teenager's parents participated in a Health Committee hearing regarding a bill that would ban the industry.
The family was on a trip to New York City, visiting landmarks such as the Statue of Liberty and Wall Street, just hours before the fatal accident. The horse, identified as Sampson, appeared uninjured after the incident. The rest of Mahajan's family sustained minor injuries. The carriage reportedly shattered after colliding with another during the incident.