Two teenage girls lost their lives early Saturday morning in Brooklyn, New York, in a suspected subway surfing incident that has reignited concerns about the deadly trend.
According to People, the fatal event occurred around 3:10 a.m. on October 4, 2025, at the Marcy Avenue and Broadway station, where police discovered the teens unresponsive after they reportedly fell while riding on the outside of a moving subway.
The New York City Police Department stated officers arrived at the scene in response to a 911 call near the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn. Upon arrival, they found two young females unconscious and not breathing. Emergency responders pronounced both teens dead at the scene. The victims have not yet been publicly identified. The NYPD confirmed that an official investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to determine the full circumstances surrounding their deaths.
According to the New York City Transit Authority, initial findings indicate that the girls were participating in subway surfing — an illegal and hazardous act where individuals ride on the exteriors of subway cars while trains are in motion. This practice has been denounced by transit officials as extremely dangerous.
Growing Concerns Over the Subway Surfing Trend
Subway surfing has emerged as a rising concern among New York transit officials, particularly following an increase in incidents over recent years. In 2024 alone, four individuals lost their lives in similar circumstances. That same year, police made 162 arrests related to the activity, highlighting the persistence of the problem despite preventative efforts.
As of October 2025, the New York Police Department reports 128 arrests linked to subway surfing. While the number has slightly decreased, law enforcement and transit officials remain alarmed at the trend’s continued popularity among youth who share and promote the risky behavior on social media platforms. Public transportation leaders have expressed deep sorrow and frustration over the recurring nature of these deaths. Demetrius Crichlow, president of the New York City Transit Authority, issued a strong statement on Saturday condemning the behavior and calling on the community to take a more active role in prevention.
Transit President Urges Public Awareness
“It’s heartbreaking that two young girls are gone because they somehow thought riding outside a subway train was an acceptable game,” Crichlow said. He urged parents, educators, and peers to speak openly about the dangers of subway surfing to prevent future tragedies.
He added that what may appear to some as an adrenaline-filled thrill is, in fact, often fatal. “Getting on top of a subway car isn’t ‘surfing’ — it’s suicide,” Crichlow said. The statement stands in stark contrast to online portrayals of the act, which often ignore or downplay its fatal risks. Crichlow also shared that both the girls’ families and the transit personnel who found their bodies were deeply traumatized by the event. He described them as “horribly shaken by this tragedy" and emphasized the need for greater sensitivity and collective action following such incidents.
MTA Stresses Education and Prevention Efforts
To address the rise in subway surfing, the Metropolitan Transit Authority has implemented a public awareness campaign aimed at educating youth on train safety. The initiative includes a clear and direct message: “Ride inside, stay alive.”
Officials hope that the campaign, in combination with increased patrols and surveillance, will dissuade individuals from attempting this fatal act. They are also calling for parents and schools to reinforce the life-threatening dangers associated with the behavior. The MTA has partnered with local schools and youth programs to distribute materials and host workshops, encouraging young people to share their concerns and ask questions in a safe environment. The effort is part of a broader attempt to reshape how the public thinks about what has been wrongly glamorized.
Community Grapples with Another Tragic Loss
The community surrounding the Marcy Avenue station has been left reeling in the wake of this latest tragedy. Residents and local leaders have expressed condolences and are mourning what they see as another senseless loss of promising lives.
City officials expressed their solidarity with the victims’ families. They emphasized that incidents like these violate not only the rules of safe transit but the hopes and expectations of entire neighborhoods. They called for support services to be made available to those affected, particularly youth who may be emotionally impacted. Officials say efforts will continue to raise awareness citywide and reduce opportunities for people to engage in dangerous behaviors on transit systems. Plans include working directly with social media companies to limit the spread of subway surfing content.
Officials Call for Collective Accountability
Although the investigation remains ongoing, authorities stress that the focus must now shift to accountability and education. They believe that clear communication and community involvement are keys to interrupting this dangerous trend. Transit leaders, law enforcement, and safety advocates have urged New Yorkers to report suspicious or dangerous activity when they see it. They say that while enforcement is important, preventative strategies and dialogue are more sustainable solutions.
As the city mourns the loss of two young lives, officials say the latest incident should serve as a serious warning. They continue to appeal to all New Yorkers to value safety over spectacle—before another life is cut short.
