PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — Shocking videos are circulating online that show people hanging off moving trains, prompting an investigation by SEPTA police.
One video appears to show a man hanging off the back of a moving train, while another appears to show people riding on top of a train.
“Never seen nothing like that, that’s madness. Complete madness,” said passenger Edquardo Chinnell of Germantown.
“You are dancing on a thin line of life and death, because anything could happen,” said passenger Cody Langley of Marcus Hook.
SEPTA police said they are using the videos to try to identify those involved.
According to authorities, clues in one video helped investigators determine that a man was hanging off the back of the Market-Frankford Line train as it emerged from the 40th Street tunnel heading toward 46th Street.
Police said they have narrowed down where the man boarded the train, but they still do not know why he engaged in the behavior.
“I don’t understand what makes people want to do something this dangerous,” SEPTA Police Capt. Marc Pasquarella said.
Some passengers offered their own theories about the motive behind the actions shown in the videos.
“He’s probably doing it on social media, wants attention. It’s sad,” said Rocco Boccuti of Colmar.
Authorities said one of their major concerns is that others may attempt to imitate what they see online.
“It’s insane. It’s extremely dangerous. Obviously, falling off the train, seriously injured or killed. You could be electrocuted; our biggest concern right now is copycats,” Pasquarella said.
SEPTA police said their investigation remains ongoing as they work to identify the individuals seen in the videos.
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