Woman pushes for MTA changes after son's death subway surfing

LOWER EAST SIDE, Manhattan (PIX11) — One year after 15-year-old Zackery Nazario’s untimely death while subway surfing on the J train, his loved ones held a memorial Tuesday to remember his short life.

Subway surfing has been an ongoing issue in the city in recent years. MTA data shows 683 incidents of people riding outside of trains in 2023. There have already been two subway surfing deaths in 2024, according to police. Friends and family of Nazario are commemorating his death with calls for subway safety. 

“My past holidays were awful and sad, starting with his passing from today, to his 16th birthday, to Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day,” said Zackery’s mother, Norma Nazario. 

Norma is still trying to piece together a nightmare one year to the day her son’s life was tragically cut short after he died while subway surfing on the J train as it crossed over the Williamsburg bridge. With candles and flowers in hand, loved ones marched to the very spot where Zackery lost his life — praying and releasing balloons in his memory as they marked that somber day.

“I gotten the text that he had passed that night and I remember running out of my house and screaming at the top of my lungs,” said Zackery’s best friend Renzo Pereyra. “It was horrifying to hear that my best friend had passed away from something so stupid as this.”

Norma is now pushing for increased safety measures on subways. 

“They can lock the doors,” Norma said. “If it’s an emergency, let them open. There’s plenty trains out there that the doors are totally locked for years. I don’t know what’s the issue to start doing it now.”

NYC Transit President Richard Davey released a statement to PIX11 saying,

“We’ve said it over and over—do not climb on top of trains because that won’t end well, and we implore parents to tell their children and friends to warn friends—avoid tragedy by riding inside.”

As Norma grapples with the heavy loss, she is now using her son’s death to send a message to others, hoping to prevent similar tragedies.

“Please stop,” said Norma. “Do it for Zack.”

In September, the MTA launched a campaign to deter people from subway surfing. That campaign includes making public service announcements at subway stations, digital signage, and posters distributed at schools to get the message across to teens.