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TTC probing video of pair ‘surfing’ top of train

LIZ BRAUN

The Darwin Awards have some new contenders this year.

The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) has released footage of two young men “surfing” a Line 3 Scarborough RT train.

Their Canada Day wishes — and Canadian flags worn like Superman capes — suggest the video was made July 1, but the TTC hasn’t confirmed when the footage was made.

In the four-minute video posted to Youtube, two men are seen coming out the doors on the last carriage of the TTC vehicle and climbing on top of the moving train. Both are masked. Drone footage shows them frolicking as the train moves toward Kennedy station, then lying flat as they ride into the station proper and jumping off the train in front of gobsmacked passengers on the platform.

A second part of the video shows two masked riders, again on top of a Line 3 train, with one apparently lighting up a huge spliff. This portion has an end-title reading “Nothing personal TTC.”

Stuart Green, TTC head of communications, said in a statement Monday that transit system officials are aware of the footage and it is under investigation.

He also said the TTC has its own footage of the incidents from its stations and trains.

“We take incidents like this seriously and will prosecute to the full extent of the law,” said Green.

“Goes without saying that stunts like this are incredibly dangerous and illegal. They can lead to serious injury or death as well as service delays and massive inconvenience for our customers,” he added.

Similar footage of urban adventurers hanging off the back carriage of Line 2 subway cars surfaced in May.

Turns out this kind of death-wish behaviour is not specific to Toronto.

The New York transit system has had similar problems, and MTA officials have called subway surfing an increasing trend — fuelled in part by social media.

The New York Post reports an increase of 560 per cent in such incidents in the first six months of 2022, compared to the same period last year. They have already clocked 449 surfing events this year.

Ten days ago, a 15-yearold surfing a subway train in Queens struck his head and was left in critical condition. In May, a 12-year-old was also badly injured riding a train in the Bronx.

NYC Transit president Richard Davey has begged subway surfers to stop.

“I would implore anyone who is watching this, to tell your friends, to tell your kids: Do not do this.

“Please, please, please, do something else with your time,” Davey said.

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2022-07-05T07:00:00.0000000Z

2022-07-05T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://saltwire.pressreader.com/article/281676848611482

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