1 girl killed, another critically injured subway surfing in Queens, police say
NEW YORK -- One girl was killed and another was critically injured while subway surfing late Sunday night in Queens, police say.
The NYPD said the victims were surfing when they fell between the tracks and were struck by a southbound 7 train just before 11 p.m. Sunday near the 111th Street station in Corona.
One girl, who was 13 years old, was found under the train and did not survive. The other, who is 14, was in front of it, and she was rushed to Elmhurst Hospital with a fractured skull, unable to breathe on her own.
Troubling subway surfing trend
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has made a push to run public service announcements online and in stations, but incidents continue to rise. The city has also called on social media companies to do more to remove dangerous videos.
Mayor Eric Adams posted about the latest incident, saying he is "heartbroken" about the news.
"Heartbroken to hear that subway surfing -- and the pursuit of social media clout -- has stolen another life. We are doing everything we can to raise awareness against this dangerous trend, but we need all New Yorkers -- and our social media companies -- to do their part, too. No post is worth your future," he wrote on social media. "My prayers are with the families of both girls."
Sunday night's death marks the sixth fatality so far this year. Authorities say the 7 line is the most popular because of its elevated outdoor tracks, so police are using drones to watch for people on top on trains in the area.
"I see it in the morning and after school. I get out of work around 4 or 5 p.m., and sometimes the trains end up stopping because they have to stop because of the subway surfing," one rider said Monday.
"You see that a lot around 8 at night. Last week, at 8 in the morning, there were like three teenagers," said another rider.
"It's not worth your life"
Just last Wednesday, 13-year-old Adolfo Samabria died while subway surfing at the Forest Avenue station in Queens, police said. His loved ones said he celebrated his birthday just days before.
One friend called him a "ray of sunshine," adding, "he had a long life to live."
Last month, 11-year-old Cayden Thompson died while subway surfing on the G train. His grief-stricken uncle, a teenager himself, vowed to never try the trend again.
"I got hooked on it. I'd seen videos online, decided to do 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 kids who are thinking of going into subway surfing and other kids who still do, just stop doing it. It's not worth your life," he added.