He was a shocking bright kid, but only until they turned the power off.

When it's late and you're drunk and there's no nearby Denny's to go hang out at, what do you do? Well Brian McClellan sure found a way to light up the night in Connecticut.

Model catches fire atop commuter train

A model and actor was badly disfigured and fighting for his life after catching fire when he climbed atop a Manhattan-bound Metro-North train on Sunday, law-enforcement sources said.
A train crew found Brian McClellen, 21, on fire on the roof of the New Haven line train shortly before 5:10 a.m. in Riverside, Conn., an MTA spokesman said.
The train, which runs on overhead electrical wires, had lost power. The workers had gone up to find out why.
Video taken at the Stamford rail station shows an apparently intoxicated McClellen climbing on top of the train, a source said.
Investigators believe the victim, who lives near Union Square, was burned after a coming in contact with the train’s pantograph, which collects power from the 12,500 volts in the wires.
The crew used an extinguisher to put out the flames atop the sixth car...

His family described him as determined and talented.

Not exactly the words that I'd use, but ok. I'd use adjectives like "thoughtless" and "stupid", but that's just me, I guess.

According to this story, he was on the roof of the train attempting skateboard tricks:

Skateboard daredevil, 21, fighting for life after he caught fire riding New York City-bound train when he collided with electrical wire

I hope the kid survives this, but I also say that there needs to be laws prohibiting people like this from suing the railroads when they defy common sense and bypass the numerous signs, barricades and other devices intended to prevent just such an occurrence. No one else should have to pay for this kid's poor decision-making.