“Surfing” of a different kind through Del Mar went viral in social media circles late last week and led to two arrests on suspicion of trespassing on railroad property.
The San Diego County Sheriff’s Office announced the arrests Monday, Jan. 12, after reports of two people riding on the tops of Coaster commuter rail cars through Del Mar on Jan. 9.
A video of the incident, which was shared on Instagram by several accounts and credited to Del Mar resident TJ Wilcox, shows who appear to be two young men on top of the cars, one running and one lying down, as the train heads north on the coastal bluff tracks.
The activity is commonly referred to as train surfing.
The North Coastal Sheriff’s Station received several calls around 5 p.m. about the incident, but the individuals who were reportedly on top of the train had already climbed down and left by the time deputies arrived, according to a Sheriff’s Office report. The two suspects were found during a search of the area near the Solana Beach Train Station, one in the 200 block of South Coast Highway 101 and the other in the 300 block of South Cedros Avenue.
Authorities said the pair, whose names and ages were not released, admitted to riding on top of the train and were then arrested on suspicion of trespassing on railroad property.
There were no injuries, the Sheriff’s Office reported.
“The San Diego County Sheriff’s Office wants to remind the public that individuals who engage in trespassing or dangerous behavior around railroad equipment/tracks pose serious safety risks to themselves and others,” the report stated.
The North County Transit District’s Coaster locomotives can travel up to speeds of about 90 mph, according to the agency’s Safety and Security webpage, although their average speed can be about 40 mph or slower in more urban areas or where coastal bluff conditions require it.
