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NYC subway lines linking Manhattan to Brooklyn grind to a halt after boy, 14, who was illegally surfing atop cars fell off
A 14-year-old boy is in critical condition after falling from the roof of a northbound New York City J/M train while subway surfing, police said. The incident stopped trains linking Manhattan and Brooklyn and has renewed attention on a dangerous stunt promoted on social media.
The boy fell as the train entered Hewes Street station in Williamsburg at about 3.40pm on Monday and was taken to Bellevue Hospital. No arrests have been made and the investigation is ongoing. The article cites several previous fatal incidents involving young people and reports that at least 13 people have died subway surfing this year.
In short
- A 14-year-old is critically injured after falling from a J/M train.
- Trains between Manhattan and Brooklyn were halted.
- Police are investigating; no arrests have been made.
Explained simply
New York’s subway connects Manhattan, Brooklyn and the city’s other boroughs. The J and M trains run between Manhattan and Brooklyn, serving neighbourhoods including Williamsburg, where Hewes Street station is located.
Subway surfing means riding on the outside or roof of a moving train, rather than inside a carriage. It is illegal and can expose riders to falls, collisions and electrical hazards.
The stunt has gained attention through social media, and young people have been among those killed or seriously injured while attempting it. Incidents can also disrupt services used by passengers travelling across the city.