Two young girls were tragically found deceased on a New York City subway train early Saturday morning after attempting a dangerous stunt known as “subway surfing,” authorities have confirmed.
The New York City police responded to a 999 call at the Marcy Avenue station in Brooklyn shortly after 3 am. Upon arrival, they discovered two girls who were unresponsive and pronounced dead at the scene.
The victims’ identities and ages have not been disclosed as an investigation is currently ongoing.
Expressing his sorrow over the incident, New York City Transit President Demetrius Crichlow stated that it is heartbreaking to lose young lives due to the misguided belief that riding on top of a subway train is a game. He emphasized the importance of parents, teachers, and friends warning their loved ones that engaging in such risky behavior is not a game but a deadly act.
He further mentioned that the families of the deceased girls and the transit workers who found them are deeply affected by this tragic event.
According to reports, the number of fatalities related to subway surfing in New York City has been on the rise, with six deaths recorded last year compared to five in the previous year. The dangerous trend, which has been around for a century but has gained popularity through social media, has claimed the lives of several teenagers, mainly young boys.
To combat this perilous activity, social media platforms have been urged by transit authorities to remove any content that glorifies subway surfing. Efforts to raise public awareness through campaigns and the use of drones to apprehend surfers have also been undertaken.
The NYPD disclosed that the arrests made for subway surfing surged to 229 last year from 135 the year before, with the majority of those apprehended being teenage boys, the youngest of whom was only 9 years old.