- By Supratik Das
- Sun, 05 Oct 2025 10:21 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Two teenage girls were killed early Saturday morning while attempting to “subway surf” on top of a moving J train crossing the Williamsburg Bridge, New York City police confirmed. The incident has reignited concerns over the rise of this dangerous trend, which has already claimed multiple young lives in recent years.
According to authorities, officers responded to a 911 call at around 3:10 a.m. after the train’s emergency brakes were activated near the Marcy Avenue station in Brooklyn. Upon arrival, police found two girls, one identified as 13 years old and the other believed to be between 13 and 15, lying lifeless atop the final car of the Queens-bound train. Officials said the victims likely sustained fatal head injuries after hitting a low-hanging beam as the train approached the station.
The conductor, alerted by the emergency brake system, discovered the bodies on the train roof. Both girls were pronounced dead at the scene. Police are working to identify the second victim and notify the families.
Game Or Suicide?
New York City Transit President Demetrius Crichlow expressed deep sorrow over the incident, calling it “heartbreaking” and preventable. “It’s heartbreaking that two young girls are gone because they somehow thought riding outside a subway train was an acceptable game,” Crichlow said. “Parents, teachers, and friends need to be clear with loved ones getting on top of a subway car isn’t surfing, it’s suicide.”
City officials have repeatedly warned about the dangers of subway surfing, a stunt where individuals climb onto the roof or sides of moving trains a trend that has spread widely through short-form video platforms such as TikTok and Instagram.
In recent years, subway surfing has surged among teens, inspired by viral online videos showing the reckless act. Police data show six people died from subway surfing in 2024, up from five in 2023. This year alone, at least three fatalities were reported before Saturday’s incident.
Authorities say the NYPD has increased surveillance on train routes using drones to spot and rescue surfers before tragedy strikes. “We’ve prevented over 50 incidents this year,” Mayor Eric Adams said in June, emphasizing that online influence has turned the subway into “a deadly playground for young thrill-seekers.”
In 2023, New York City launched a public awareness campaign titled “Subway Surfing Kills, Ride Inside, Stay Alive,” aiming to discourage youth from engaging in the perilous activity. The Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) has also worked with social media platforms to remove over 1,800 related videos this year.
ALSO READ: VIDEO: 20-Storey New York Building Collapses, Footage Shows Dust Cloud And Rubble On Streets
Previous Tragedies Spark Legal Action
The parents of 15-year-old Zackery Nazario, who died in a similar incident last year, have filed a lawsuit against TikTok, Meta, and ByteDance. They allege the platforms’ algorithms promoted dangerous subway surfing content to teens. The companies have denied the claims.
As investigations into Saturday’s tragedy continue, officials are urging parents to speak with their children about the dangers of online challenges.
