An 11-year-old boy died while choosing to engage in reckless behavior on the New York City subway. The young boy was “subway surfing,” which is when you ride the subway car on top or on the side, while it is moving instead of safely inside. While it is an activity young daredevils have done for decades, it’s only gotten worse in the age of social media.
Currently, the New York Police Department is investigating the incident. As of right now, no other deaths have been reported from this incident. However, so far this year, three other teens have died while subway surfing.
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The incident occurred in Brooklyn.
On Monday, September 16, at 10:13 a.m., the 11-year-old boy, who police have not identified publicly, hit his head on an overhang at the Fourth Avenue/Ninth Street intersection in Brooklyn during an attempt at “subway surfing,” the New York Police Department confirmed in a statement to People.
After being hit, he fell onto the subway tracks and was hit by the G train, the NYPD explained. EMS responded to the scene and pronounced him dead at the scene.
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NYC authorities are calling the death 'avoidable.'
“This is another avoidable heart-wrenching reminder that riding outside trains is not a game, and the subway is not a social media studio,” Demetrius Crichlow, NYC Transit’s interim president under the Metropolitan Transit Authority, said in a statement that was obtained by People.
“It should not take more tragic termination of young lives for parents and classmates of those who would climb on top of subway cars to help them comprehend the devastating risk.”
Mayor Eric Adams released a statement.
“It is heartbreaking to hear another life cut short due to subway surfing,” New York City mayor Eric Adams said in a statement released on X (formerly Twitter). “Sending my prayers to the family of this young New Yorker. We will continue to do everything we can to discourage this dangerous activity, but we need everyone to join our efforts. Through our #RideInsideStayAlive campaign, we’re going to continue working to keep our kids safe.”
City officials are teaming up to warn young people about the dangers of subway surfing.
The NYPD, city officials, and the MTA came together to share how dangerous subway surfing is with young people who may think it’s a good idea. An MTA staffer told People that the public transit organization flags subway surfing videos on social media in an attempt to dissuade others from copying the deadly activity. So far, the MTA has had 10,650 posts removed across various social media platforms.
This latest victim is the fourth, and also youngest to die from subway surfing this year. Police recently stopped 10-year-old during an attempt to subway surf.
