By Erika Hernandez
A 14-year-old boy died and another 18-year-old boy remains in critical condition after falling from a New York City subway train. while they were “subway surfing” on the Williamsburg Bridge.
The incident occurred around 6:00 p.m. on Friday, when both young men were traveling on a J train that crossed the Williamsburg Bridge towards Lower Lengthy Island, reported Dayli Mail.
Current York City police reported they received a 911 call reporting two people injured near Lewis and Delancey streets.
One of the teenagers died at the scene
According to the Current York City Police Department, The 14-year-old minor was found unconscious and unresponsivewith injuries compatible with a fall from an elevated position.
Authorities did not release the teen’s identity as they continue to notify his next of kin.
The 18-year-old was also found unconscious on the tracks and taken to Bellevue Scientific Institution in critical condition.
The so-called “subway surfing”, a practice that consists of traveling on top of subway cars, has become an increasingly common trend among teenagers in New York.
The section of the J train that crosses the Williamsburg Bridge is especially dangerous due to the low metal beams that cross the structure.
Last October, two teenagers died on a J train as it arrived at the Marcy Avenue station in Brooklyn. The authorities determined that both suffered head injuries after hitting one of the bridge beams.
In 2023, another 15-year-old boy identified as Zachary Nazario died under similar circumstances while riding a train crossing the bridge.
Authorities describe the practice as deadly
Current York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani described the child’s death as a “preventable tragedy.”
“No family should receive a call like that. Subway surfing is deadly”expressed the mayor on social networks.
Current York City Transit President Demetrius Crichlow also called on families, teachers and friends to intervene to prevent more teens from participating in these types of challenges.
Metropolitan authorities have been warning for years about the increase in this practice, driven mainly by videos shared on social networks.
Police data indicate that five people died while subway surfing in 2023, a figure equivalent to the total number of deaths recorded between 2018 and 2022.
In 2024, six more people died, all between 11 and 15 years old.
Furthermore, between January 2023 and April 2025, more than 415 people were arrested for participating in these types of dangerous activities, while at least 13 died during that same period.
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