Teen dies after horse-drawn carriage accident in Central Park
An 18-year-old passenger was killed when a horse pulling a carriage in Central Park bolted and threw riders from the vehicle, prompting calls for a full investigation.
Police said an 18-year-old teenager died after being thrown from a horse-drawn carriage in Central Park on Wednesday afternoon. The teenager was among four passengers riding in the carriage when the horse, which had been in the park for six weeks, bolted away from its driver just before 3 p.m. At least two passengers were ejected from the moving cab; the teen was hospitalized in critical condition before later succumbing to his injuries, while the other riders declined medical treatment.
A Transport Workers Union representative noted that the driver had stopped to take a photograph of the passengers, an action prohibited by union rules. Alexander Kemp, the union’s administrative vice-president, said a full investigation is needed and emphasized broader safety concerns for all vehicles operating in the park, including e-bikes, delivery vans, pedicabs and horse-drawn carriages.
Video footage showed the horse sprinting through the park as two people jumped from the four-wheeled carriage, and a second clip captured the cab overturning after striking the wheels of another carriage on the park’s loop. The incident follows a recent fatal horse collapse in the park and adds to ongoing debate over the future of the 150-year-old carriage industry, which supporters cite as a tourist attraction and source of employment, while opponents argue it poses risks to public safety and animal welfare.
The Central Park Conservancy, which manages the park and previously expressed support for banning horse-drawn carriages, said the consecutive accidents underscore the need to end the practice, stating that a young visitor lost his life and that such a cost is unacceptable for a heavily used public space.
