Parents sue NYC over carriage rider's death linked to power surge

Romanch Mahajan, 18, died in June after he jumped from his carriage in Central Park to save his mother during a family trip from India. His grief-stricken parents are now suing New York City for $105 million. They say a stray electrical current spooked the horse and caused the fatal accident. The lawsuit names the city and Con Edison, accusing them of failing to keep the carriage industry safe. A notice filed on Friday claims that this stray voltage directly contributed to the horse's sudden panic. Several other municipal agencies are also named in the claim, including the Departments of Parks and Recreation, Health and Mental Hygiene, and Transportation.

Jamie McShane, a spokesperson for Con Edison, told reporters that they checked their equipment on July 16 and again on July 23. He stated that very low levels of stray voltage were observed but neither instance came from their gear. The Transport Workers Union jumped into the fray immediately after learning about the utility failure. They demanded that city officials rethink a proposed ban on horse-drawn carriages in Central Park. Their argument is simple: punishing drivers for broken city electrical infrastructure would be horrifically unfair to 200 immigrant workers who rely on these jobs. Alexander Kemp, union Vice President, said it makes no sense to eliminate livelihoods without letting an investigation finish first.

Blue-collar carriage drivers should not pay the price for flaws in the power grid, according to Kemp. Meanwhile, PETA Director Ashley Byrne has been screaming for change since June. She asked how many more disasters must happen before beleaguered horses are finally removed from the park. For everyone's safety, she is telling council members and Speaker Julie Menin to stop dithering and pass Ryder's Law right now. This bill aims to ban horse-drawn carriages entirely. It already has enough Council member support to move forward but waits for an environmental review that will check its economic impact.

Mahajan's family has been publicly critical of the carriage industry since their son died. They pushed hard for a ban even while appearing on video during Health Committee hearings about the legislation. The tragedy shook the community and sparked a fierce debate over who is responsible for safety in Central Park. While PETA wants an immediate end to the carriages, the union fights to protect drivers from being blamed for electrical issues they cannot control. The legal battle between the grieving family and city officials is just beginning.

A group of animal rights activists gathered outside NYC City Hall in protest after a family died in a carriage accident at Cherry Hill. Deepak Mahajan, 44, lost his life on June 17 when their driver stopped to take a photo near Tavern on the Green. The horse named Sampson suddenly bolted with everyone inside.

Deepak told The Times that they were yelling for help as the carriage raced down the pavement. His wife Priya flew out first. Their son jumped immediately to save her but hit his head on the ground. He died Wednesday night at New York-Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medical Center.

His mother suffered minor injuries along with the rest of the family. The carriage shattered into pieces after crashing into another vehicle during the incident. Sampson, a seven-year-old horse, appeared uninjured and in stable condition near the restaurant where the driver caught up to him.

Just hours before this deadly tragedy occurred, Romanch's parents shared pictures on Instagram showing their travels across New York City. They visited iconic landmarks like the Statue of Liberty and Battery Park. The group also saw the Charging Bull on Wall Street and the Oculus among other sites.

The Daily Mail has reached out to the City of New York and Con Edison for comment regarding this fatal crash.