Two 14-year-old boys lost their lives while participating in the dangerous activity of subway surfing in New York City, most recently on June 29.
Subway surfing refers to the risky and unlawful act of riding on the top of moving train cars, a practice that has recently claimed two lives in separate incidents just one week apart.
On the evening of June 29, police were called to the 33rd Street and Rawson Street subway station in Queens. Responding officers found a teenager named Jevon Fraser unconscious on the 7 train platform, displaying injuries that suggested a fall from an elevated position. Despite immediate medical attention at a nearby hospital, Fraser’s life couldn’t be saved.
A week before this, on June 22, a similar episode occurred at the subway station at Bushwick Avenue and Aberdeen Street in Brooklyn. On arrival, the police found two 14-year-old boys on the L train tracks. One of the boys, Brian Crespo, was declared dead at the scene, while the other boy was taken to a hospital in critical condition.
Regretfully, these are not isolated incidents. Recently a 12 year old boy was caught and given a juvenile summons – this was his 4th subway surfing incident. On a previous “surf” in April he fell off the train and received lacerations and a head injury.
The dangerous act of subway surfing continues to be a significant issue within the city’s transportation system, primarily affecting the city’s youth. Efforts continue to raise awareness about the inherent risks of such activities to prevent further loss of life.
