Two young girls were tragically found deceased on a train in New York City early Saturday morning after a “subway surfing” attempt went awry, authorities confirmed. Police responded to a 999 call at the Marcy Avenue stop in Brooklyn just past 3 am and discovered the lifeless bodies of the two girls who were pronounced dead on the scene. The victims’ identities and ages have not been disclosed as an investigation is currently in progress.
Expressing sorrow over the incident, New York City Transit President Demetrius Crichlow stated, “It’s heartbreaking that two young girls are gone because they somehow thought riding outside a subway train was an acceptable game.” He emphasized the importance of educating loved ones about the dangers of such activities, highlighting that getting on top of a subway car is not a game but a risk of life.
The tragedy has left both the families of the victims and the transit workers who found the girls deeply shaken. Last year, six individuals lost their lives while subway surfing in the city, marking an increase from five fatalities in 2023. Notably, subway surfing, a practice that has been around for decades but has gained popularity through social media, has claimed the lives of numerous teenagers over the years, predominantly young boys.
In response to these incidents, transit authorities have called on social media platforms to remove any content that glorifies subway surfing. Efforts to raise public awareness include awareness campaigns and the use of drones to monitor and deter surfers. The New York Police Department revealed a significant rise in the number of arrests related to subway surfing, reaching 229 last year compared to 135 the previous year, with the majority of those arrested being teenage boys, including a 9-year-old.
