Recent severe crashes

1. Driver Stepped Out Before Teen's Fatal Central Park Fall 2026-06-17T18:45:00+00:00
   Manhattan
   Carriage driver Ertan Gokdepe stepped out to photograph passengers before the horse bolted in Central Park and Romanch Mahajan, 18, suffered fatal head trauma.
   On June 17, 2026, 18-year-old Romanch Mahajan was riding in a horse-drawn carriage in Central Park with relatives visiting from India. Multiple outlets reported that the carriage driver had stepped out to take a photo near West 71st Street and Centre Drive or Cherry Hill before Sampson, the horse pulling the carriage, became spooked and bolted. Mahajan suffered a head injury and died later at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell. Sources differed on the exact sequence: some reported he fell as the horse began running, while others described him being thrown during or after the carriage overturned following contact with another carriage. The drivers union said a driver should never leave a carriage to take photos, halted rides for safety review, and backed a full investigation; police said no charges had been filed as of June 18.
2. Bike rider blew yield, hit walker 2026-04-26T19:49:00+00:00
   1 CENTRAL PARK HECKSCHER FLDS
   Near Heckscher Fields at dusk, a bike rider failed to yield and hit a 41-year-old woman crossing in a marked crosswalk. Police recorded head injury with severe bleeding; the 20-year-old rider was hurt too.
   According to the police report, a 20-year-old bike rider going straight ahead near 1 Central Park Heckscher Flds failed to yield right-of-way and hit a 41-year-old woman who was crossing in a marked crosswalk without a signal. Police recorded a head injury with severe bleeding and semiconscious status for the pedestrian, and a shoulder/upper-arm contusion for the rider.
3. Unlicensed driver overturned on Central Park W 2026-03-22T22:10:00+00:00
   W 108 ST
   An unlicensed 66-year-old driver lost control in the rain on Central Park W at W 108th St and overturned. Police recorded slippery pavement; the driver was injured and listed as unconscious and ejected.
   According to the police report, a 66-year-old man driving on Central Park W at W 108th Street was going straight ahead when the vehicle overturned around 10:10 p.m. Police recorded slippery pavement as a contributing factor. The driver was listed as injured, unconscious, and ejected. The crash happened after dark in rainy conditions.
4. Driver turned wrong, dumped cyclist 2026-06-08T16:40:00+00:00
   1 CENTRAL PARK HECKSCHER FLDS
   A driver making a right turn hit a 38-year-old bicyclist near Central Park’s Heckscher Fields. Police recorded improper turning and following too closely; the cyclist suffered an elbow/arm abrasion and was ejected.
   According to the police report, the crash happened Monday afternoon near 1 Central Park Heckscher Flds in Manhattan. Police say a 46-year-old driver making a right turn hit a 38-year-old bicyclist who was going straight. The bicyclist was ejected and reported an abrasion to the elbow/lower arm/hand. Police recorded turning improperly and following too closely.
5. Inattentive driver U-turns into cyclist 2026-05-10T10:10:00+00:00
   CENTRAL PARK W
   A driver making a U-turn hit a 70-year-old cyclist on Central Park W at W 63rd St. Police recorded driver inattention.
   According to the police report, a 37-year-old driver in a 2018 Toyota Camry was making a U-turn on Central Park W at W 63rd Street around 10:10 a.m. when he hit a 70-year-old bicyclist who was going straight. Police recorded driver inattention/distraction. The cyclist was injured, with minor bleeding and an elbow/lower-arm/hand injury.