Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Teen Dies While Trying to "Subway Surf"
By
Jen Chung
Published Oct 21, 2003
Modified Mar 6, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Chung
Published Oct 21, 2003
Modified Mar 6, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
A teenager was killed by an oncoming subway after he fell off another subway car he was reportedly "subway surfing" on. The 14 year-old, Eric Alvarez, was atop northbound C-train from West Fourth towards 14th Street, when he hit his head on a girder and fell into the tracks near 14th Street. Transit spokesman said an E-train then ran over him. However, NY1 reports that a student says Alvarez was not riding on the roof of the subway but was just moving between cards: "We was all playing, and the girl grabbed his leg. It was not like a game. He was just riding on the outside of the train, like in the middle of the cars. The girl grabs his leg, and one of the things in the middle of the tunnels, one of the walls, hit him in his head, and he slipped out of her hand and fell." Clearly, this is terrible, but subway surfing? Just when you say or think it, it's a bad bad bad idea.
More from the Post and Daily News.
Tagged
bad idea
daily news
news
News: NYC
ny post
ny1
subway
train
transit
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Federal judge tosses Trump administration lawsuit challenging NYC sanctuary laws
A Brooklyn judge ruled the federal government lacked standing to challenge city policies limiting cooperation with immigration authorities.
By
Phil Corso
Published Oct 15, 2026 at 9:13 p.m. ET
2 men charged in fatal fentanyl poisoning of NYC college student, alleged rape
Federal prosecutors say one man gave two women fentanyl disguised as cocaine in a Manhattan dorm, then raped one of them while she was unconscious. She later died.
By
Giulia Heyward
News
2 men charged in fatal fentanyl poisoning of NYC college student, alleged rape
Federal prosecutors say one man gave two women fentanyl disguised as cocaine in a Manhattan dorm, then raped one of them while she was unconscious. She later died.
By
Giulia Heyward
NYC spending on homelessness has soared. So has the number of people on the street.
By
Karen Yi
MTA’s Lieber reiterates opposition to ‘fast and free’ buses after violent incident
By
Carol Chen
Avila Chevalier insists her beef is with NYPD Commissioner Tisch, not Mamdani
By
Jimmy Vielkind
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .