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Published Jun 17, 2026Updated Jun 243
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Teenager Dies After Central Park Horse-Drawn Carriage Accident
An 18-year-old died after being thrown from a Central Park horse-drawn carriage when the horse bolted as the driver stepped away to take a photo. The accident has intensified calls to phase out the carriage industry, with critics citing recurring safety and animal welfare concerns.
Quick Facts
- A horse-drawn carriage accident in Central Park left an 18-year-old passenger dead
- The horse bolted while the driver had stepped away to take a photograph
- The carriage clipped another carriage and overturned
- Authorities and critics renewed calls to end or phase out Central Park horse-drawn carriages
- 18-year-old passenger
An 18-year-old passenger has died after falling from a horse-drawn carriage in Central Park, New York City, in an accident that has renewed scrutiny of the long-running tourist attraction. Police said the teenager was among four passengers in the carriage when the horse bolted while the driver had stepped away to take a photo.
According to accounts cited by police and local media, the carriage clipped another carriage on the park’s loop before overturning. The teenager was taken to hospital in critical condition and later died. The other passengers declined medical treatment.
Representatives for the Transport Workers Union said the driver should not have left the carriage to take photographs and called for a full investigation. The union also said the horse had only been in the park for about six weeks.
The incident comes amid renewed debate over horse-drawn carriages in Central Park, which animal welfare advocates and some city officials have long criticized as unsafe for both horses and people. The Central Park Conservancy said the latest accident, following a recent horse death in the park, should end the industry.
Why This Matters
This tragedy underscores urgent safety and animal welfare concerns in a tourist industry long under scrutiny. New Yorkers and visitors should be aware of the risks involved, and policymakers may accelerate the phase-out of horse-drawn carriages—potentially affecting tourism, employment, and urban animal rights legislation.