An 18-year-old man from India died after a carriage accident in New York City's Central Park, causing politicians to push again for the end of the horse-drawn carriage industry.

一名 18 歲的印度男子在紐約市中央公園發生馬車意外後死亡，導致政治人物再次推動終結馬車產業。

The accident happened on Wednesday when a carriage carrying Romanch Mahajan and three family members went out of control. According to the victim's father and the Transport Workers Union (TWU), the driver had stepped off the vehicle to take photos of the passengers, which the union described as a violation of safety rules. During this time, the horse bolted, causing the carriage to hit another vehicle and flip over. Mr. Mahajan suffered fatal head injuries after he jumped from the carriage to help his mother, who had been thrown out. He was later pronounced dead at the hospital.

這起事故發生於週三，當時一輛載著 Romanch Mahajan 及其三名家人的馬車失控。根據被害者父親與交通工會（TWU）的說法，司機當時下車為乘客拍照，工會將此行為描述為違反安全規則。在此期間，馬匹突然驚走，導致馬車撞上另一輛車並翻覆。Mahajan 先生在跳出馬車幫助被拋出的母親後，頭部受了致命傷。他隨後在醫院被宣布死亡。

This death has increased the conflict over whether the 150-year-old industry is still viable. The Central Park Conservancy, which manages the park, asserted that this event shows an unacceptable risk to public safety. Consequently, they have called for the immediate passage of 'Ryder’s Law.' This proposed law would stop the city from issuing new carriage licenses and phase out the industry over two years, while providing job support for affected workers. The Conservancy noted that this is the eighth horse-related incident in the park in 13 months, including the recent death of a horse that ate poisonous plants.

這次死亡事件加劇了關於這個擁有 150 年歷史的產業是否依然可行的衝突。管理該公園的中央公園保育協會（Central Park Conservancy）主張，此次事件顯示出對公共安全不可接受的風險。因此，他們呼籲立即通過《萊德法》（Ryder’s Law）。這項擬議法律將停止市政府核發新的馬車執照，並在兩年內逐步淘汰該產業，同時為受影響的工人提供就業支援。保育協會指出，在 13 個月內，公園內已發生 8 起與馬匹相關的事件，包括近期一匹馬因食用有毒植物而死亡。

Different groups have changed their positions following the accident. While the TWU previously opposed ending the industry, it now supports laws to install secure hitching posts to prevent similar accidents. Furthermore, Mayor Zohran Mamdani and several City Council members have emphasized their commitment to a 'just transition' that would permanently stop horse-drawn carriage operations. Meanwhile, the carriage owner has suspended the driver and retired the horse from service.

不同團體在事故後改變了立場。雖然 TWU 之前反對終結該產業，但現在支持安裝安全繫馬柱的法律以防止類似事故。此外，市長 Zohran Mamdani 與數名市議員強調，他們致力於實現「公正轉型」，以永久停止馬車運作。與此同時，馬車主已停職該司機並讓該馬匹退休。

The New York City Council will hold a hearing on Ryder's Law in July to decide the future of the horse-drawn carriage industry.

紐約市議會將於 7 月針對《萊德法》舉行聽證會，以決定馬車產業的未來。