Teen Critically Injured After Attempting 'Subway Surfer' Trend in New York That Has Claimed Multiple Lives
A 17-year-old friend of the boy was arrested at the scene and another teen is still at large.
A 14‑year‑old boy is now in critical condition after falling from the roof of a train in the Bronx. This is the newest incident in the devastating rise in "subway surfing" in New York City, a trend that has claimed the lives of several teens, hurt many more and left authorities scrambling for solutions.
According to reports, the teen struck his head and wrist and was found unconscious on the tracks. EMS rushed him to Jacobi Hospital, where officials confirmed his stabilization the following day, but "is still fighting for his life." Witnesses say the teen and two friends climbed atop the moving train, and a 17-year-old friend was arrested at the scene, charged with reckless endangerment and trespassing, while the third individual remains at large.
"Subway surfing" is a perilous illegal activity that involves riding atop moving subway trains. According to NYPD and MTA data, at least six minors died in 2024 while attempting to surf the rails of the New York subway system. Among those killed was 11‑year‑old Cayden Rivera, who slipped from the roof of a G train in Queens after skipping school. Another fatal incident in October saw two teenage girls perched between subway cars on the 7 train in Corona. One of the girls fell onto the tracks, resulting in immediate death, while the other sustained critical injuries.
2024 hasn't been the only year New York has seen fatalities of this nature. Five teens died attempting the trend in 2023, and six from 2018 to 2022 lost their lives as well. In response, New York Governor Kathy Hochul, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), and New York City schools have started the "Ride Inside, Stay Alive" campaign. The goal is to highlight the dangers of attempting the trend through illustrated comic-book-like panels telling the stories of teens who died attempting the trend and the people they leave behind.
New York City Transit President Demetrius Crichlow said, "It's a joyride that ends with nothing but – no joy at all. And families will continue to deal with it indefinitely."
The MTA has also begun installing barriers between select cars to physically block roof access. The NYPD has also started deploying drone surveillance along specific lines to detect and stop "surfers" in real time, which NYPD Transit Chief Joseph Gulotta has called a "game changer." Reports indicate that 79 people have been arrested for subway surfing this year, compared to 88 arrested in 2024.
Originally published on Latin Times
