NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) – Police are investigating after a teenage boy was struck by a train in Brooklyn and died on Friday in what appears to be a subway surfing accident, the NYPD said.
At 2:20 p.m., a teenage boy was hit by a southbound F train at the Avenue N subway station in Midwood, police said.
The boy, whose exact age was not confirmed by police, was pronounced dead on the scene.
Authorities said that they believe the victim was subway surfing and fell off the train.
The release of the identity of the victim is pending proper family notification, officials said.
“Our thoughts are with the teenager’s family. Subway surfing kills. Another innocent life has been lost, and it should not happen,” NYC Transit President Richard Davey said in a statement on Friday. “I implore parents to talk with their children and teachers to speak with their students – riding on top of subway trains is reckless, dumb, and the consequences can be lethal.”
In September 2023, the MTA, Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams launched a campaign to raise awareness about the dangers of subway surfing, Davey said.
Digital signs, announcements recorded by students, cops at subway stations and messaging in schools are meant to deter people from the practice, the MTA said.
The last subway surfing death was on Dec. 4, 2023. Friday's accident resulted in only the second subway surfing-related death since the beginning of the campaign, according to the MTA.
Since September, the NYPD has successfully stopped an average of 11 subway surfers per month, largely youth.