13-Year-Old Dies, Another Girl Critically Injured After Attempting to Ride Top of N.Y.C. Subway

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

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

“Upon arrival, officers observed [a] 13-year-old female unconscious and unresponsive and was pronounced deceased on scene by EMS,” the spokesperson said. “Additionally, a 12-year-old female was transported by EMS to NYC Health and Hospitals/Elmhurst in critical condition.”

NYPD identified the 13-year-old who was killed as Krystel Romero of Brooklyn, New York. 

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

The NYPD said that the investigation is ongoing.

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

PEOPLE reached out to the MTA for comment, but they did not immediately respond.

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In a Monday, Oct. 28 X (formerly Twitter) post, New York City Mayor Eric Adams responded to the tragedy, writing: “Heartbroken to hear that subway surfing — and the pursuit of social media clout — has stolen another life.”

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

“My prayers are with the families of both girls,” Adams concluded. 

According to Gothamist, the Oct. 27 incident marks the sixth fatality linked to subway surfing in the New York City transit system this year. 

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

The MTA said on its website there were four subway-surfing-related fatalities last year, adding that it had teamed up with the NYPD and New York City students on a campaign to discourage people from the dangerous activity through such efforts as public service announcements and social media posts. 

“The goal of the campaign is to remind members of the public, especially young people, that riding on top of subway cars is reckless and dangerous, frequently leading to tragedy for the person involved and their loved ones,’ the agency said.