New York teen accused of taking subway ride and causing crash

New York police have arrested one of two people suspected of riding on an empty subway train and then crashing it.

The arrested person, a 17-year-old girl, is charged with criminal damage in connection with the incident at the Briarwood subway station in Queens shortly after midnight on September 12.

She and her companion are accused of entering the train, operating it and then causing a “collision.”

The search for the companion continues. No injuries were reported in the crash.

The New York Police Department (NYPD) has released few details and it is unclear how the two gained access to the train.

The BBC has contacted the NYPD and New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) for further comment on this aspect.

Officers have also not yet disclosed how far the duo was able to travel on the train before fleeing.

Surveillance footage released by police shows one suspect dressed entirely in pink — including a shower cap — and a second person wearing blue.

In addition to the charge of vandalism, the arrested teen is also charged with reckless endangerment.

The second person was described by the NYPD as a man with a slim build and light complexion. He was last seen wearing a blue tank top, red shorts and a black backpack.

A similar incident was reported in January at the Forest Hills-71st Avenue station, also in Queens. Again, no one was injured and no damage was reported.

At the time, authorities suspected that the joyriders were using a stolen key.

They reassured the public by saying that the train could not leave the marshalling yard and could not reach the active tracks.