Early on Saturday morning, two young females were discovered deceased on the roof of a subway train in New York City, a tragic incident that took place on October 4.
New York City police responded to an emergency call at approximately 3am at the Marcy Avenue station in Brooklyn. Upon the officers’ arrival, the girls were found unconscious and unresponsive, and medical personnel declared them dead at the scene.
The identities and exact ages of the victims have not been released, but New York City Transit President Demetrius Crichlow confirmed the involvement of “young girls” in this unfortunate event.
This incident has prompted officials to issue a warning about “subway surfing,” a dangerous activity associated with social media influence, which has been linked to previous fatalities on the city’s transit system.
In June, New York City Mayor Eric Adams highlighted the issue on Twitter, stating: “Social media must be socially responsible. Subway Surfing kills. We need everyone to be a part of ending this dangerous threat.”
“Subway surfing” involves individuals riding on the exterior of moving trains, often clinging to the sides or, more commonly, positioning themselves on the top of these trains. The practice poses severe risks, including electrocution, unexpected train movements, and the possibility of falling onto the tracks.
While not a new phenomenon, the resurgence of subway surfing has been partly attributed to social media platforms.
Crichlow expressed his sorrow in a statement: “It’s heartbreaking that two young girls are gone because they somehow thought riding outside a subway train was an acceptable game. Parents, teachers, and friends need to be clear with loved ones: getting on top of a subway car isn’t ‘surfing’ — it’s suicide. I’m thinking of both the grieving families, and transit workers who discovered these children, all of whom have been horribly shaken by this tragedy.”
New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani also expressed his condolences, saying, “My heart breaks for the families and loved ones of the two teenage girls who tragically lost their lives last night atop the J train.”
Warnings about subway surfing have been issued previously. In 2024, NYPD Chief of Transit Joseph M. Gulotta emphasized the dangers, stating on X: “The dangers of subway surfing are real & its consequences potentially life-altering. With our youngest & most impressionable NYers returning to the subways since the return to school, a reminder to those who’d consider this dangerous act – think twice.”
In 2024, the New York Police Department detained 229 individuals suspected of subway surfing, a significant increase from 135 the previous year.