Tragic Death of Teenage Girl Following Viral Subway Surfing Challenge

Two young teenagers tragically fell off a moving train while attempting to participate in the subway surfing trend popularized on TikTok. One girl was discovered deceased at the scene, while the other is currently in critical condition.

On October 27, 2024, 13-year-old Krystel Romero reportedly lost her life while engaging in the viral subway surfing challenge that has gained significant traction on social media.

The activity involves participants riding on the roofs of moving trains, and in some instances, jumping from one train to another. Unfortunately, Romero was on top of a southbound 7 train in Queens, New York, when she fell between train cars and was hit by a subsequent train around 11 PM at the 111th Street station in Corona.

Authorities pronounced Romero dead at the site of the incident. She wasn’t alone in her perilous endeavor; reports from the NYPD indicated that she was with another girl during the subway surfing attempt.

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The subway surfing victim, Krystel Romero of Brooklyn, was just 13 years old. The other victim, a 14-year-old girl, was hospitalized in critical condition. Residents conveyed their thoughts to NBC New York’s Jessica Cunnington regarding this tragic incident.#nbc4ny

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Both girls fell off the train when their balance was lost due to the train’s abrupt stop. The survivor was quickly taken to Elmhurst Hospital, where she remains in critical condition with severe injuries, including a fractured skull and a brain bleed. Following the fall, she was unable to breathe without assistance.

Given the numerous trains operating in NYC, the activity of subway surfing is likely to persist. NYPD Transit Bureau Chief Joseph Gulotta mentioned that measures, including drone surveillance, are being put in place to counter this issue.

“We have a drone program deployed on the J line and the 7 line, where we primarily observe these occurrences,” Gulotta stated. “We are proactively engaging with social media platforms and producing videos aimed at parents to illustrate the consequences of these actions.”

In response to the tragedy, Mayor Eric Adams also voiced his concerns regarding this “dangerous trend,” emphasizing the city’s commitment to addressing the subway surfing challenge.

“I am heartbroken to learn that the pursuit of social media fame has taken another life due to subway surfing,” Adams declared. “We are doing everything within our power to raise awareness against this perilous trend, and we need all New Yorkers and social media companies to contribute as well. No post is worth sacrificing your future.”

Just days before this incident, a 13-year-old boy also lost his life while engaging in the same dangerous activity atop a moving train in Queens. His mother has started a GoFundMe campaign for her vibrant child who was “full of life.”

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