Caden Nowicki, Texas high school football player, dies after sledding-tow accident

Caden Nowicki, a 17-year-old high school senior and football player from Ponder, Texas, died Thursday, January 29, 2026 (ET), after suffering critical injuries in a sledding-style accident earlier in the week. The incident, which happened during icy winter weather in North Texas, has renewed local warnings about the dangers of being towed behind motorized vehicles.

Nowicki’s death has prompted an outpouring of grief from classmates, teammates, and the wider community, along with calls for safer choices when winter conditions push people toward improvised recreation.

What happened in the accident

Investigators say the crash occurred Monday afternoon, January 26, 2026 (ET), in Denton County. Nowicki was riding inside a kayak being pulled by an all-terrain vehicle along a roadway. The kayak left the roadway, and Nowicki was thrown from it, striking a fence.

He was transported to a hospital with traumatic injuries and was later moved to intensive care. Officials confirmed he died from his injuries three days after the crash.

The driver of the ATV, identified by authorities as 22-year-old Jackson Long, was not injured. Another passenger involved in the towing setup also was not injured. The investigation remained ongoing as of the weekend.

Why “sledding behind vehicles” is especially risky

The circumstances mirror a pattern seen in winter-weather incidents: when streets and yards are icy and snow-covered, some people attempt “sledding” by towing a rider behind a vehicle using a kayak, tube, or sled. Safety experts and law enforcement regularly warn that this setup is difficult to control because:

• The towed rider has little ability to steer or brake.

• A small shift in speed or direction can whip the tow line and swing the rider into fixed objects.

• Roadway edges, curbs, mailboxes, parked vehicles, fences, and trees become high-impact hazards.

• Ice reduces traction for the towing vehicle, increasing the chance of skids and overcorrection.

In Nowicki’s case, investigators said the kayak left the roadway, and the impact with a fence proved catastrophic.

Who Caden Nowicki was on the field

Nowicki was a member of the Ponder High School football program, where he was known as a hard-nosed defender and a valued teammate. Coaches described him as a high-effort player who embraced physical roles and team-first work.

The football community’s response has been immediate: teammates gathered in support during his hospitalization, and school staff organized counseling resources for students returning to class after the loss. Community members also began collecting financial support for the family to help with medical and funeral expenses.

A week of grief during winter weather

Nowicki’s death came amid a wider week of winter-related tragedies in North Texas, with multiple teens in the region killed in towing-style sledding accidents. The cluster of incidents has amplified concerns that the practice is being repeated without an appreciation for how quickly a harmless-looking ride can turn deadly.

Local officials have urged families to avoid towing riders behind cars, trucks, ATVs, or other motorized vehicles, even at low speeds. They have also emphasized that safe sledding—on hills away from roads, trees, and hard obstacles—can quickly become unsafe when it moves onto streets or involves towing.

What happens next

Authorities are expected to complete a crash investigation that will address the sequence of events, any contributing factors related to road conditions, and whether citations or charges are warranted. In cases like this, investigators often look at speed, the towing method, the location of the tow route, and whether the setup complied with safety and traffic rules.

For the school and town, the next steps are focused on mourning and support: memorial plans, ongoing counseling availability, and continued community fundraising. In the days ahead, families across the region are also likely to see renewed safety reminders as winter conditions linger.

What to know right now

• Caden Nowicki, 17, died Thursday, January 29, 2026 (ET), after a crash on Monday, January 26 (ET).

• Investigators say he was riding in a kayak being towed by an ATV when he was thrown into a fence.

• The investigation remains ongoing, and officials continue urging people not to tow riders behind vehicles.

Sources consulted: Texas Department of Public Safety; NBC DFW; People; San Antonio Express-News