Unrelenting Pursuit of a Lethal Game: Participants Continue Engaging Despite Fatal Consequences
Rewritten Article:
Young New Yorkers are finding themselves in a precarious predicament, with authorities pleading them to abandon a potentially lethal pastime that has claimed the lives of 13 individuals so far. This notorious activity goes by the name of 'subway surfing' – a thrilling yet hazardous endeavor where participants climb onto the roofs of speeding subway trains as they traverse aboveground stations.
Social media has, unfortunately, played a significant role in popularizing this high-risk sport, with a seemingly endless stream of videos featuring young teenagers daring to climb atop subway cars. In an effort to curb this trend, authorities and concerned citizens alike are rallying to spread awareness about the gravity of the situation.
Last week, a 30-year-old man met a tragic end while subway surfing in the Bronx. The incident occurred around 3:15 am, as the unidentified individual fell between train cars on a Northbound 1 train near the 238th Street Station in Kingsbridge. The unfortunate soul's body was not recovered for two long hours from the tracks.
Sadly, the majority of victims are teenagers, eagerly scampering across the roofs of trains following school for a reckless joyride. An MTA spokesperson told DailyMail.com, "These are 12, 13, and 14-year-olds doing this. Nothing good comes of it."
Authorities are urging patience and caution, pleading with residents to reconsider their actions and avoid feeding into the chaos that this dangerous trend perpetuates.
More than 415 people have been arrested for subway surfing between January 1, 2023, and April 15, 2025, according to NYPD data shared with DailyMail.com. Thirteen have paid the ultimate price during the same period. The NYPD apprehended 229 citizens last year alone, with 53 of those happening before April 15, 2024. In the same Spring timeframe, two lives were claimed by this careless pursuit.
Comparing 2025 to 2024, the number of arrests and fatalities remains similar with 52 arrests and two fatalities so far in 2025. Tragically, there were six deaths in 2024.
One such fatality was that of 15-year-old Zackery Nazario in February 2023. As he rode atop a train, his head struck a steel beam, throwing him off the train and causing him to be run over by a carriage.
Nazario's mother, Norma, has teamed up with the MTA, City Hall, and Governor Kathy Hochul in a noble initiative to raise awareness about the perils of subway surfing and to encourage people to steer clear of this deadly pastime. In August 2022, Norma conversed with Mayor Eric Adams, dedicating the time to commemorate her beloved son, who aspired to join the Marines and shared a fondness for Frank Sinatra.
On that fateful day, Norma anxiously awaited Zackery's return, texting him around 10 pm. She received no reply, and moments later, NYPD officers arrived at her door. "I couldn't even speak," she recalled, her heart racing with dread.
Adams admitted to Norma that he was "really shocked by how popular" the trend was on social media. "It's just really harmful to our children," he said. Norma appealed to the youth of New York to prioritize their well-being over social media accolades, saying, "Family and friends are going to be hurt forever, especially your mom."
DailyMail.com reached out to Norma for further comment.
In July 2024, 15-year-old Anthony Bhagwandeen perished while riding a train in Queens, suffering a severe head injury near Beach 90th Street Station in Rockaway.
Months earlier, in January 2024, 14-year-old Alam Reyes lost his life after plummeting off a Coney Island-bound F Train in Brooklyn. His heartbroken half-brother later disclosed that Alam followed multiple accounts showcasing images and videos of subway surfing around the city.
The surge in subway surfing-related deaths spurred local and state governments, along with the MTA, to launch the 'Stay Inside, Stay Alive' campaign. The initiative advocates against subway surfing and has garnered support from multiple channels, such as advertisements in stations and on trains, on social media platforms, and through the distribution of merchandise to students.
Additionally, the NYPD dispatched more officers to stations, particularly along the 7 line, which has the most incidents in the NYC transit system, according to the MTA. To further deter subway surfing, authorities have requested assistance from companies like TikTok and Google in limiting visibility on related videos.
Subway surfing can be traced back to 1938 when Donald Munoz, 11, and William Layden, 12, tumbled off the roof of a Brooklyn train after it collided with an overpass. Both boys incurred skull fractures and, tragically, Munoz perished from his injuries.
The trend re-emerged in the 1980s, and by 1996, then-Mayor Rudy Giuliani acknowledged that protecting a child who decides to surf on the top of a subway car would be nearly impossible. The deadly trend persists today, fueled by the allure of social media fame.
State Senator Leroy Comrie has even proposed a solution to prevent youngsters from ascending onto the rooftops of subway cars by suggesting that the tops be greased. The NYPD has employed drones to monitor subway surfing activities, but the surveillance has yet to deter rebellious youths, who often dance and wave at the machines. Repeat offenders constitute a common issue within the system, with many going uncharged.
A 20-year-old named Michael, whose last name remains undisclosed, believes that showing the fatal consequences of this risky behavior is the only way to truly sway young people away from it. "Forget the announcements. They need to start showing the dead bodies of these kids and hammer it into their heads that they shouldn't do anything like this for TikTok clout," he stated.
Until then, it appears that some young people will continue to engage in this dangerous activity, disregarding the warnings and the threat it poses to their lives.
- In an effort to address the rising trend of a hazardous activity called subway surfing, authorities are appealing to young New Yorkers to prioritize safety over social media fame.
- Numerous videos showcasing subway surfing are prevalent on social media platforms, inadvertently popularizing this deadly pastime.
- Interviews with concerned citizens and officials have regularly been featured in general news, crime and justice, and sports-betting sections of various media outlets.
- The 'Stay Inside, Stay Alive' campaign, a collaborative effort by local and state governments, the MTA, and various organizations, has been launched to raise awareness about the dangers of subway surfing.
- News reports often highlight car-accidents, fires, and other tragedies that have been caused by subway surfing, pointing to its potential for fatalities.
- In line with the campaign, the NYPD has increased their presence at stations, particularly along the 7 line, and requested assistance from companies like TikTok and Google to limit the visibility of related videos.
- The surge in subway surfing-related fatalities has led to proposals such as greasing the tops of subway cars, as suggested by State Senator Leroy Comrie, to deter young individuals from engaging in this dangerous activity.
