Two 14-year-old boys lost their lives while participating in the dangerous stunt of subway surfing in the New York City subway, most recently on June 29.
On Thursday evening, the New York Police Department officers were sent to the 33rd Street and Rawson Street subway station in Queens. At the scene, they found a teen, identified as Jevon Fraser, unconscious on a platform of the 7 train. His injuries were consistent with a fall from a considerable height, and despite medical attention provided at a local hospital, Fraser succumbed to his injuries.
A week earlier, on June 22, police were summoned to the subway station at Bushwick Avenue and Aberdeen Street in Brooklyn. Upon arrival, they found two 14-year-olds on the L train tracks. One of the boys, Brian Crespo, was pronounced dead at the scene, while the other was taken to a hospital in critical condition.
Subway surfing continues to be a significant problem in the NYC transit system. A week previously, a 12 year old boy was seen “surfing” for the fourth time, even after having fallen and injured himself in April. The police issued a juvenile report for reckless endangerment. Authorities face the ongoing challenge of making people aware of the severe risks involved in such activities to prevent further devastating incidents.