The family of Romanch Mahajan, an 18-year-old tourist, is seeking $105 million from New York City and several municipal agencies, alleging that a "stray electrical current" caused the horse pulling their Central Park carriage to bolt, resulting in the teenager's death. The incident occurred in June when Mahajan fell and struck his head while attempting to help his mother during the carriage ride.
The lawsuit, filed as a notice of claim, asserts that the city and Con Edison failed to ensure the safety of the horse carriage industry and its operating environment in Central Park. The claim states that a stray voltage "caused, precipitated, contributed to and/or was a substantial factor in" the horse's agitation.
Also named in the claim are the city's Departments of Parks and Recreation, Health and Mental Hygiene, Transportation, and Consumer and Worker Protection. Con Edison, the city's utility provider, reported observing low levels of stray voltage on July 16 and July 23, but stated that neither instance originated from their equipment.
The Transport Workers Union has suggested that the discovery of stray voltage raises questions about the incident's cause and has called for reconsideration of a proposed ban on horse-drawn carriages. The union argues that banning the industry would unfairly impact drivers due to faulty electrical infrastructure within the city and Central Park.
Romanch Mahajan and his family were visiting New York City from India. The fatal incident occurred at Cherry Hill on June 17. According to Mahajan's father, Deepak, the carriage driver had stopped to take a photo when the horse, Sampson, suddenly bolted. As the carriage moved erratically, Mahajan's mother fell out, and Romanch jumped to her aid, subsequently falling from the carriage and hitting his head. He was pronounced dead later that evening. The rest of his family sustained minor injuries.
Mahajan's family has been vocal in their criticism of the horse carriage industry, advocating for a ban since their son's death. They appeared in a video during a Health Committee hearing concerning a bill that would ban the industry.
Animal rights organizations, including PETA, have also renewed calls for an end to the horse carriage industry following the incident. PETA Director Ashley Byrne stated that the incident highlights the need for immediate action to protect both horses and the public.
The bill to ban horse-drawn carriages has garnered sufficient support from City Council members but awaits an environmental review to assess its economic impact.