On Friday, a 14-year-old boy met a tragic end while participating in the perilous activity of subway surfing in Brooklyn. The heart-wrenching consequences of this incident were vividly captured in photographs by the Post, including a poignant image of a lone sneaker resting beneath the elevated train tracks.
According to police reports, eyewitnesses observed the teenager climbing atop a southbound F train as it neared the Avenue N stop, a location straddling the Borough Park and Midwood neighborhoods. The boy fell onto the tracks around 2:20 p.m. and was subsequently hit by an approaching train, which, despite efforts, was unable to stop in time.
The immediate aftermath of this deadly stunt was starkly evident at the scene. A distressing photograph showed a sneaker, believed to belong to the victim, lying below the tracks on MacDonald Avenue, cordoned off by crime scene tape. Another disturbing image depicted the center double-yellow line of the road marred with the teen’s blood, told the New York Post.
This incident adds to a growing list of fatalities over the past two years, attributed to the hazardous practice of subway surfing. Authorities note an alarming rise in such stunts, fueled by teens attempting to mimic risk-taking behaviors popularized on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram.
Data from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) reveals a significant increase in incidents of people riding outside subway trains, including atop them. There were 450 such reports in the first half of 2023 alone, a sharp rise from 262 reports during the same period in 2019.
MTA President Richard Davey expressed profound sorrow over the incident, labeling it “heartbreaking” in a statement. He extended his condolences to the teenager’s family and stressed the lethal nature of subway surfing. Davey appealed to parents and teachers to convey the dangers of this reckless behavior to their children and students.
The year 2023 has already witnessed at least five fatalities resulting from riding atop city trains. In response to the escalating danger, the MTA and Mayor Eric Adams launched a public service advertising campaign in September. This initiative, featuring advertisements and announcements by New York City public school students, aims to deter the trend of this viral daredevil activity.
Since the start of the school year, special NYPD patrols have actively worked to combat subway surfing. These efforts have reportedly prevented an average of 11 individuals per month from engaging in this life-threatening activity. The tragic loss of the young teenager serves as a stark reminder of the severe risks associated with subway surfing, despite ongoing efforts to curb this dangerous trend.
