An 18-year-old tourist died Wednesday after a horse-drawn carriage became startled and bolted through New York City's Central Park before colliding with another carriage and overturning, according to the Central Park Conservancy.
The incident occurred on June 17, 2026, near the park's 72nd Street entrance. The horse, spooked by an unknown stimulus, ran uncontrollably before crashing into a second carriage. The victim, whose name has not been released, was pronounced dead at the scene. Two other people were injured and taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
New York City police are investigating the crash. The horse involved was not seriously injured, officials said. The Central Park Conservancy expressed condolences and said it is cooperating with authorities.
Horse-drawn carriage rides are a popular tourist attraction in Central Park, but have faced criticism from animal rights groups over safety and working conditions. This is the first fatal accident involving a carriage in the park in recent memory.
