NEW YORK — The family of a teenage tourist killed in a Central Park horse carriage crash said Monday during a memorial for the victim that it plans to sue the city over the teenager’s.death.

Romanch Mahajan’s family has already expressed public support for a legislative bid to ban the carriages in New York City after Mahajan fell from a carriage June 17 when a horse bolted during a picture-taking stop.

The family’s lawyer, Ali Najmi, said that the family is demanding accountability. He said a wrongful death lawsuit will be filed by the end of the week.

Meanwhile, supporters of the family and advocates of the bill said they wished the city had taken action sooner.

“This was all foreseeable,” City Council Member Chris Marte said Monday during a vigil at Central Park’s Cherry Hill Fountain, where the incident happened. “For over a decade, we knew this would happen. Even when I introduced the bill, I said, ‘Are we going to wait until someone passes away to take action?’ Unfortunately, that’s what took place.”

Mahajan’s relatives gathered to light red candles and place fruits and flowers — lilies and roses — and recite Sikh and Hindu prayers.

The 18-year-old victim’s mother and father joined via videoconference, and said they hope Mahajan’s life can be an inspiration for others.

“We as a family hope that his legacy can continue,” his father, Deepak, said on the call. “He sacrificed his life for the lives of the animals and all the living beings on this planet. Just remember Romanch. That’s it.”

Mahajan’s mother could be heard sobbing in the background.

Mahajan’s death was the first carriage fatality in at least 50 years, city officials said, but it was enough to refuel a long simmering debate over whether to abolish the industry.

Mahajan was in a Central Park carriage when the driver stepped out of his seat to take a photo of him and his family, who had traveled from India to visit New York City for the first time. While they were posing, the horse suddenly started running, and Mahajan was thrown off the carriage. He hit his head on the pavement, and he later died.

Mahajan family said they support a city council carriage ban bill, which has been renamed in the teen’s honor. They also participated in a nine-hour City Council Health Committee hearing over the ban bill, which would end all horse-drawn carriage rides by June 2028.

The TWU, which represents the drivers, opposes a ban and has called instead for increased regulation.

A vote on the bill is expected next month.

“We in our religion believe there is a purpose for his sacrifice,” Mahajan’s aunt, Sovia Thukral, said. “He has become a voice for everyone, including the animals who cannot speak for themselves. He’s an angel to all of us, protecting all of us, not just the family but all living beings.”

She said Mahajan was scheduled to start his first day of college this week. He was about to attend Mani Pal University in Jaipur.

She said her sister, Mahajan’s mother, is inconsolable.

“His mother doesn’t sleep,” the aunt said. “She told me, ‘My son took his last breath on my lap and I couldn’t help him.’”

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