"Stupidity in Motion": Influencer Dances with Death On Coastal Train (Video)

"Idiots. Doing idiot things, because they are idiots." Was a line used in the cartoon show Archer that feels like the most apropos thing to say about this clip of two people "train surfing" aboard the top of the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner.

In the brief Instagram clip below we see two people, one filming the other as he runs towards the camera, as the Surfliner train passes along the coast in Del Mar at sunset on Friday, January 9th, 2025.

Honestly, it's sad to see what people will do to get attention on social media. As the caption says, they're clearly, "doing it for the likes", and violating the law and risking their lives in the process. At this time, it's unclear as to where they boarded the train, how they got on the roof, and where they got off.

It shouldn't even need to be explained why roof-riding is illegal, but at the bare minimum it is because the trains and railroads are considered private property and such violations are considered trespassing. That's just the warm up.

This type of stupidity has its own criminal category known as reckless endangerment. Reckless endangerment is a crime defined by "engaging in conduct that creates a substantial risk of serious physical injury or death to another person, even without intending harm, showing a disregard for obvious risks". These dumbasses check all the boxes.

Reckless endangerment is most commonly charged to those who are driving at high speeds (typically more than 25mph over the speed limit), street racing, or driving under the influence while a child is present. The crime focuses on the dangerousness of the action, not necessarily the intent to hurt someone, in order to hold individuals accountable for creating hazardous situations for others.

At the time of writing, there are no reports of death along the railroad but, had one of the two been injured or killed, the other could be held liable. The fact that they were most likely filming this for social media only increases their recklessness as it could inspire others (yes, idiots) to try and attempt the same.

Railroad companies and law enforcement have a zero-tolerance policy for train surfing and will certainly pursue arrest as will the prosecutor likely punish them to the fullest extent of the law to make an example out of them. Essentially saying, "Let this be a warning to all would-be idiots!"

Comments on the post from @grayskull79 include: "Stupidity in motion" and "Let natural selection take its course"