A 17-year-old teenager died from an electric shock on a train in Zaporizhzhia
A 17-year-old boy died in Zaporizhzhia after being electrocuted while attempting to ride an electric train with two friends by clinging to its exterior. The teenager suffered severe burns and life-threatening injuries, and the medical personnel who arrived at the scene were unable to save him.
On August 15, the engineer of the “Zaporizhzhia-2—Kanzerivka” electric train discovered the boy’s body between the cars. The train station dispatcher then notified the police.
Law enforcement officials determined that a 14-year-old boy had also been electrocuted. He fell from the train onto the ground. According to police, the boy was hospitalized. A third minor was unharmed.
Investigators entered the details into the Unified Register of Pre-Trial Investigations under Part 1 of Article 115 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine—intentional homicide. The pre-trial investigation is ongoing.
The Zaporizhzhia Regional Police emphasized that “the railroad is not a place for recreation, and any attempt at dangerous travel can cost a life.”
“So-called ‘train surfing’—or staying on roofs, footboards, between cars, or other external parts of the train—is a deadly pastime. Electric shock is possible even without direct contact with the wires. In addition, while the train is moving, a person may lose their balance and fall from the train, which poses a risk of serious injury or death,” law enforcement officials noted.
They urge parents to regularly talk to their children about railroad safety rules and explain the real consequences of such activities.
“It is important to know where and with whom minors are spending their time, especially when it comes to areas near railroad tracks, stations, and crossings.
If you see children on train cars, tracks, or other dangerous areas of the railroad, do not ignore it. Immediately notify the police and railroad employees. Remember: no extreme ride is worth a human life,” the police emphasized.
As a reminder, five teenagers were killed and four others were seriously injured in a traffic accident in Ireland.
