Teenage Girl Killed, Another Critically Injured in Queens Subway Surfing Fall
In a tragic incident that underscores the alarming rise of “subway surfing” accidents, a teenage girl was killed, and her friend left fighting for her life after a horrific fall and impact with an oncoming train in Queens on Sunday night. The accident, which occurred around 11 p.m. on a southbound 7 train at the elevated 111th Street station in Corona, represents the latest casualty in a growing, dangerous trend among teens. According to the New York City Police Department, the two girls, whose identities have not been released, fell between the train cars before being struck by the moving train. One of the girls was pronounced dead at the scene, while the other was rushed to Elmhurst Hospital with severe head trauma, where she remains in critical condition.
Photos taken from the scene reveal a chilling sight: pairs of sneakers and blood splatters visible on the pavement beneath the elevated station, a haunting reminder of the risks involved in subway surfing. Police are currently investigating the circumstances of the fall, but preliminary findings suggest that the incident was part of a social media-driven subway surfing attempt gone tragically wrong.
This incident marks the sixth subway surfing-related fatality in New York City this year, spotlighting a worrisome trend primarily among young people, who often engage in the activity for social media clout. Despite warnings from transit authorities and law enforcement, the number of individuals attempting to ride on the outside of subway cars — clinging to train roofs, between cars, or hanging onto rear sections — has surged, largely fueled by videos and photos shared online.
Subway surfing is a dangerous trend where individuals ride on the exterior of subway trains rather than inside the cars. While the practice has existed in various forms for decades, incidents have spiked significantly in recent years, fueled in part by social media platforms where teens document the risky stunts to gain online attention. The New York City subway system, one of the largest in the world, has over 660 miles of track and hundreds of stations, making it a complex and fast-paced environment unsuitable for such stunts. The trains can reach speeds of up to 55 miles per hour, with narrow clearances along tracks and low-hanging beams posing fatal risks.
The alarming trend claimed the life of a 13-year-old boy just last week, who was killed while attempting to subway surf at the Forest Avenue station. His untimely death was preceded by that of an 11-year-old, Cayden Thompson, who was struck and killed by a low metal beam in September while riding on top of a G train in Brooklyn. Cayden’s tragic accident drew significant media attention, with his family and community calling for better safety measures to prevent similar incidents.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has warned repeatedly about the dangers of subway surfing, yet the practice persists. Officials have cited the difficulty in enforcing anti-surfing measures due to the vast expanse of the subway network and the surreptitious nature of these stunts. Surveillance cameras at stations capture some instances of subway surfing, but with over 470 stations, it’s a constant challenge to deter riders who see the activity as a thrill rather than a life-threatening risk.
Social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube are often where young people encounter and are inspired by subway surfing videos, inadvertently sparking a dangerous chain reaction as others try to emulate the stunts. Law enforcement and city officials are advocating for stronger content moderation and accountability from these platforms, which in some cases host explicit or instructional content on subway surfing. However, many videos remain accessible, often garnering thousands of views before they are flagged or removed.
Mental health professionals and youth advocates are raising concerns over the role of social media in influencing risky behavior among teenagers. Dr. Susan Weisz, a psychologist specializing in adolescent behavior, noted that social media-fueled challenges and stunts play into a teenager’s natural desire for thrill and validation. “The adolescent brain is naturally more drawn to immediate rewards and can struggle to appreciate long-term risks, which is compounded when they see their peers engaging in the same behavior with seemingly no consequences,” Weisz explains.
Some advocates argue that while education campaigns about subway safety are vital, they should be paired with a broader conversation about responsible social media use among teenagers. Platforms are already under scrutiny for the role their algorithms play in promoting high-engagement, often dangerous content to young audiences. There is growing pressure on tech companies to implement measures that more actively discourage such risky behavior.
The MTA has previously collaborated with the NYPD and the Department of Education to launch awareness campaigns about the dangers of subway surfing, particularly targeting young people. This year’s surge in fatalities has prompted renewed calls for further action, including possibly reinforcing barriers between train cars or modifying train designs to make external access more difficult. Although costly, such changes could provide a structural solution to the issue, potentially preventing future fatalities.
City officials, meanwhile, are urging parents and educators to speak openly with young people about the severe risks of subway surfing. With Halloween and other major events around the corner, concerns are mounting that the thrill-seeking behavior could spike. As New York’s youth continue to face peer pressure online, it is increasingly critical that both educational institutions and families address this issue to prevent further tragedies.
The NYPD has also stated that they are increasing their presence in subway stations with high rates of surfing incidents, especially in known hotspots in Queens and Brooklyn. However, both authorities and experts agree that without comprehensive efforts to address both the physical and social factors at play, such dangerous stunts will likely continue, potentially leading to more unnecessary loss of life.
For now, the city mourns another life lost to a preventable tragedy, hoping that this latest incident will serve as a sobering reminder of the real-world dangers of a trend that too often ends in heartbreak.
