Steveston resident Dee Farrugia was standing on the opposite platform at the skytrain station when she looked up and saw the two teens, who looked about 17 or 18, on the train heading towards waterfront.
One boy was holding a professional camera, while the other appeared to be using his phone to record what was happening.
Farrugia told the Richmond News she initially thought it was a “marketing thing” but then looked closer and saw the two kids were not strapped down at all.
“It looked like they’d done this before and they knew what to do because when the train started moving, they ducked underneath the overhead,” said Farrugia.
“It’s very scary, and I was really worried they would fall off and hurt themselves. It would be traumatizing for a lot of people that day.”
She added that what made it even more disturbing was the reaction of others.
Most people just ignored what was happening, while some younger people were laughing at the boys who “threw a peace sign” as the train left the platform.
“It’s disturbing to see no one doing anything because it’s going to encourage other people to do it.”
Farrugia said her first instinct, as a journalism student, was to snap a photo and report it to Transit Police.
Transit Police spokesperson Cst. Michael Yake said officers received reports of two individuals on top of the train around shortly after 5 p.m. and attempted to intercept them at Bridgeport Station.
However, according to Yake, the two individuals had gotten off at Aberdeen and left the station.
“The fact that an individual would put themselves on top of a train is not only stupid, but it also has a high likelihood of severe injury or death,” said Yake.
“Metro Vancouver Transit Police are aware of photos circulating on social media and are actively investigating the circumstances surrounding this incident. People who are caught either riding, standing or holding onto the exterior of the train are subject to fines or could be charged criminally.”
