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13-year-old dies, another is injured after trying to ride the New York subway

13-year-old dies, another is injured after trying to ride the New York subway

A 13-year-old girl was killed and a 12-year-old woman was injured in an apparent subway surfing incident in Queens, New York.

In an email to PEOPLE on Tuesday, October 29, a spokesperson for the New York City Police Department (NYPD) said that authorities responded to a 911 call on Sunday, October 27 about a person who was at was struck by a train at the 111 Street subway station, where the 7 line operates.

“Upon arrival, officers discovered that a 13-year-old female was unconscious and unresponsive and was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency services,” the spokesman said. “In addition, a 12-year-old female was transported by EMS to NYC Health and Hospitals/Elmhurst in critical condition.”

The NYPD identified the slain 13-year-old as Krystel Romero of Brooklyn, New York.

According to police, the two girls were apparently surfing on a subway, as NBC affiliate WNBC, Fox affiliate WNYW, ABC affiliate WABC and local station WPIX reported.

The NYPD said the investigation is ongoing.

“We didn’t hear any commotion, but it came to an abrupt stop,” one commuter said, according to WPIX. “Then the lights went out and we stayed there with the lights off for about five minutes…then we were told to get off the train.”

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At an Oct. 29 press conference on the Interborough Express (IBX) project, MTA Chairman and CEO Janno Lieber remarked on the incident: “The MTA has done so much to curb this terrible, dangerous trend (from subway Surfing). It breaks the hearts of New Yorkers when children – many of whom are just good kids – are injured and even killed by this dangerous activity.”

Lieber later added, “Listen, this isn’t like a video game. You won't get another chance; You can't just restart. This is a chance: if you do something stupid, you will lose your life. Please – parents, teachers, other caregivers – make sure children understand that this is not a game. They can’t risk their lives.”

In an X (formerly Twitter) post on Monday, October 28, New York City Mayor Eric Adams responded to the tragedy, writing, “It breaks my heart to hear that subway surfing Railway – and the pursuit of influence on social media – has stolen another life.”

“We are doing everything we can to raise awareness of this dangerous trend, but we also need all New Yorkers – and our social media companies – to do their part. No position is worth your future,” he continued.

“My prayers go out to the families of both girls,” Adams concluded.

According to Gothamist, the Oct. 27 incident marks the sixth subway surfing-related death in New York City's transit system this year.

“I see it in the morning and after school. I get off work around 4 or 5 p.m. and sometimes the trains stop because they have to stop because of the subway surfing,” one passenger recently told CBS affiliate WCBS.

The MTA said on its website that there were four subway surfing-related fatalities last year, adding that it has partnered with the NYPD and New York City students on a campaign to help people through public service announcements to discourage this dangerous activity social media posts.

“The aim of the campaign is to remind the public, especially young people, that riding on the roof of subway cars is reckless, dangerous and often leads to tragedy for the person involved and their loved ones,” the said Agency.

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