Khaberni - Two teenage girls died in the early hours of Saturday morning in New York City, following their participation in what is known as the "outside train riding" challenge or "Subway Surfing", a deadly adventure that has been increasing among teenagers in the United States in recent years.
The details of the incident began when the New York Police received a report of two bodies found on top of a train headed to Brooklyn at the "Marcy Avenue - Broadway" station in the Williamsburg area.
Rescue teams rushed to the site immediately but found the two girls had already died at the scene.
According to the authorities, one of the victims was 13 years old, while the other is believed to be between 13 and 18 years old; the girls were part of a group of about 15 teenagers seen running inside the train before the police found their bodies on its roof.
The President of the New York Transit Authority, Dimitrios Kreishlo, confirmed that the incident was "unspeakably tragic," saying: "It’s painful to lose two young girls because they thought riding outside of the train was some kind of play or adventure. Parents, teachers, and friends must be absolutely clear with children: this is not amusement, but suicide."
Eyewitnesses reported that the police spoke to three boys inside the station and took two of them for questioning, and security personnel were seen carrying plastic bags and a skateboard from the scene, without confirmation as to whether they belonged to the girls.
This tragic accident is the fifth of its kind in 2025, while the New York Police recorded six deaths related to this phenomenon during 2024 and another five in 2023.
In July of last year, a 15-year-old boy died after falling from a train at "Queensboro Plaza" station, and in March, a 12-year-old boy died from serious injuries while attempting the same challenge.
The New York Transit Authority continues to make strenuous efforts to stop these dangerous practices, having launched since 2023 an awareness campaign titled "Ride Inside to Stay Alive", aiming to warn teenagers about the lethal risks associated with "outside train riding" adventures, which have turned into a deadly challenge attracting teenagers through social media.
