Norma Nazario's son, Zackery, died on February 20, 2023, while subway surfing on the Williamsburg Bridge. He was struck by an overhead beam and died instantly. In 2023, five individuals died from subway surfing-related incidents, with the count rising to six in the following year. Nazario described Zackery as a good student and aspiring Marine. Upon accessing his social media accounts, she found numerous videos promoting risky behaviors like subway surfing, which deepened her confusion over his choices and highlighted the pressures he faced.
Nazario recalled the tragic night her son Zackery died while subway surfing, struck by an overhead beam while riding atop a fast-moving J train. The impact pushed him under the train, resulting in an instant death.
Zackery was one of five fatalities in 2023 related to subway surfing. The number of deaths linked to this dangerous activity increased to six the following year, including an incident involving an 11-year-old.
Nazario described her son as an athletic, good student with dreams of joining the Marines. She felt confusion over what led him to take such a risk that evening and later discovered troubling content on social media.
She uncovered a large amount of algorithm-driven content promoting risky challenges like subway surfing on Zackery's TikTok and Instagram, which she believed exacerbated his anxiety and low self-esteem. Nazario expressed regret for not recognizing the pressure he faced.
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