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MTA reports 25% increase in trains hitting people in NYC

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Published  April 24, 2023 10:30pm EDT
New York City
FOX 5 NY

Numbers increase

FOX 5 NY's Arthur Chi'en has the story

NEW YORK - The number of train collisions with people in New York City has seen a concerning increase in the past four years, according to data from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). 

The MTA reports a 25% rise in such incidents since 2018, with last year's count reaching 234, leading to the tragic loss of 88 lives. Moreover, nearly 1,000 arrests were made in 2022 for subway surfers.

According to the MTA, most of the cases of people being struck by trains involve mentally ill individuals or people who voluntarily enter the tracks. 

Survivor of subway surfing shares a warning for others

Isa Islam was just 12 days shy of his 18th birthday when he decided to subway surf in 2013. Ten years later, he now bears the scars of his decision. FOX 5 New York's Arthur Chi'en reports.

The trend has been worsening since subway surfing videos appeared on social media platforms, resulting in several challenges.

The MTA says it is working with social media platforms to remove those videos and to use their algorithms to block those videos from ever going up to begin with. The state agency also says it is allocating police resources to focus on problem areas.

Should subway surfing videos be banned from social media?

The MTA is calling on social media platforms to not post videos of people "subway surfing" a-top moving trains.

"If they’re that person who hits a stanchion or falls off and gets killed, they won’t be TikToking or YouTubing. They just won’t be around anymore. Don’t do it, it’s dangerous and foolish," said John Chiarello, director of safety at the Transport Workers Union Local 100, speaking to anyone who might take the risk of subway surfing for social media content.