NEW YORK (WABC) — A devastated mother is speaking out after the deadly trend of subway surfing took another child’s life this past Memorial Day weekend.
Subway surfing has been glorified on social media and even in video games that influence young teens. The MTA has run ads warning about the dangers, and lawmakers have urged app makers to take down videos.
On Tuesday, the mother of a teen who lost his life shared her story in hopes of saving others. It was an emotional and important conversation at police headquarters between NYPD Chief of Transit Joseph Gulotta and the mother of a 15-year-old boy who was killed subway surfing in 2023.
Zackery Nazario was riding atop a train across the Williamsburg Bridge when he was killed. Since then, his mother, Norma Nazario, has made it her mission to get kids to stop subway surfing. She now works with the NYPD as a community coordinator, speaking to students about the dangers and often talking with families whose children are repeat offenders.
While police have increased prevention and surveillance efforts, the problem persists. Officials believe social media continues to fuel the trend by glorifying it without showing the risks.
Just Friday, a 14-year-old was killed and an 18-year-old was injured while riding across the Williamsburg Bridge, the same location where Zackery died three years ago.
“This past week, when the child passed away, it impacted me heavily because my mind always goes there. Every day after passing. But that day, it impacted me even more because it was the same train on the same bridge. Please just stop. Stop surfing,” Norma Nazario said.
“When you look at the age, it’s a 14-year-old. That’s what it is, a 14-year-old who goes to school, who, for the most part, like Norma told me about her son, gets good grades and does OK. But before school and after school, they are riding on top of that,” Chief Gulotta said.
Police say one of the telltale signs a child may be subway surfing is their social media activity, and it’s important for parents to monitor what they’re watching.
Parents should also be aware of any transit-related gear, such as vests or keys they shouldn’t have, as these may be indicators.
On Tuesday, six teens were taken into custody. Some were surfing, others were hanging off the back of trains, and one had transit keys to access train cars.
While police say social media companies are working with them to limit subway surfing content, they believe more needs to be done.
Police say they’ve intervened or saved 83 kids this year from getting hurt.
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