One girl was killed and another badly injured while subway surfing late Sunday night in Queens, according to authorities.
According to the NYPD, the victims were surfing when they fell across the rails and were hit by a southbound 7 train shortly before 11 p.m. Sunday near the 111th Street station in Corona.
A 13-year-old girl was found under the train and died. The girl, 14, was in front of it and was brought to Elmhurst Hospital with a cracked skull and the unable to breathe on her own.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has made an effort to broadcast public service announcements online and in stations, yet occurrences continue to increase. The city has also asked social media companies to do more to remove harmful material.
Mayor Eric Adams expressed his “heartbroken” reaction to the latest tragedy in a post.
“I’m heartbroken to read that subway surfing — and the quest for social media clout — has claimed another life. We are doing everything we can to raise awareness about this dangerous trend, but we need all New Yorkers — and social media corporations — to do their part as well. “No post is worth your future,” he stated on social media. “My prayers are with the families of both girls.”
Sunday night’s death is the sixth fatality this year. Authorities believe the 7 line is the most popular due to its raised outside rails, so police are employing drones to keep an eye out for persons on top of trains in the region.
“I see it both in the morning and after school. I come out of work around 4 or 5 p.m., and sometimes the trains have to halt due to subway surfing,” remarked one rider on Monday.
“You see that a lot around 8 p.m. “Last week, at 8 a.m., there were about three teenagers,” stated another rider.
Adolfo Samabria, 13, perished last Wednesday while subway surfing at Queens’ Forest Avenue station, according to authorities. His close ones claimed he had celebrated his birthday just days before.
One friend described him as a “ray of sunshine,” adding, “He had a long life to live.”
Last month, Cayden Thompson, 11, died while subway surfing on the G train. His bereaved uncle, a teenager himself, resolved to never try the trend again.
“I became hooked on it. “I saw videos online and decided to try it,” said 15-year-old Christian Vega. “It’s really easy to get hooked onto that stuff because once you do it, nothing’s ever gonna top it off like that adrenaline rush you get.”
“Other students who are thinking about subway surfing, as well as those who are already doing it, should just stop. “It’s not worth your life,” he said.