Caden Nowicki death in sledding-tow crash prompts renewed safety warnings in Texas

Caden Nowicki, a 17-year-old high school senior and football player in North Texas, died Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026, after suffering critical injuries in a snow-day sledding accident earlier in the week. The crash occurred as he rode inside a kayak being towed behind an all-terrain vehicle on a rural road during a winter storm, and it has intensified warnings from public safety officials about the hazards of being pulled behind motorized vehicles on improvised sleds.

Nowicki’s death also came just days after two other Texas teenagers were killed in a separate tow-behind sledding crash, underscoring a pattern of tragedy during rare, icy conditions that tempted many residents outdoors.

What happened to Caden Nowicki

State public safety officials said the incident occurred Monday, Jan. 26, 2026, on Amyx Hill Road in Denton County. Nowicki was riding in a kayak being pulled by an ATV when the kayak left the roadway. He was ejected and struck a metal fence, suffering traumatic injuries.

He was flown for emergency medical care and remained hospitalized in critical condition for several days. Officials said he died on Thursday, Jan. 29. Local reporting placed the time of death at roughly 3 p.m. ET.

The ATV driver, identified as Jackson Long, 22, was not injured. A second person involved in the tow setup also escaped injury. Authorities have said the case remains under investigation.

A community grieves a football teammate

Nowicki was a senior at Ponder High School and played for the school’s football program, where he was described as a central presence and a popular teammate. School leaders shared messages of condolence and offered support services to students and staff in the days after his death.

Community members organized help for the family, including meal support and an online fundraiser to assist with medical and funeral costs. Plans for memorial services were also announced locally as friends and classmates gathered to honor him.

A week of tow-behind sledding tragedies

Nowicki’s death was the third Texas teen fatality in a tow-behind sledding incident reported in a short span.

In another crash in Frisco, two 16-year-old girls—Elizabeth Angle and Grace “Gracie” Brito—were fatally injured Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, after the sled they were riding on was being pulled behind a vehicle, hit a curb, and collided with a tree. Angle died shortly after the crash, and Brito died two days later.

Public safety messaging in North Texas has increasingly focused on the same theme: towing people on makeshift sleds—whether with trucks, SUVs, ATVs, or other vehicles—can turn a moment of fun into a high-speed impact with little protection and limited control.

Why tow-behind sledding is so dangerous

Even at low speeds, tow-behind setups create risk factors that are hard to manage:

• The rider often has no reliable braking and limited steering.

• A small bump, curb, rut, or ice patch can cause the sled to whip sideways or flip.

• A fall can happen instantly, and the rider can be thrown into fences, trees, poles, or oncoming hazards.

• The towing vehicle may not be able to stop quickly on snow or ice, especially on inclines or narrow roads.

Officials have urged residents to choose safer options when conditions allow, including staying away from roads and avoiding being pulled by any motorized vehicle. In much of Texas, where deep snow is uncommon, the lack of established sledding hills and barriers can add to the danger when people improvise on streets, ditches, and rural lanes.

What happens next

Investigators are expected to review the circumstances of Nowicki’s crash, including the roadway environment, the tow setup, and whether any traffic or safety violations were involved. In cases like this, officials often reconstruct the sequence of movement, collect statements, and document the scene to determine contributing factors.

The broader question—how communities respond when rare winter weather arrives—may linger well beyond the investigation. Local leaders have increasingly leaned on public warnings and school-based safety reminders after snow and ice events, aiming to prevent a repeat when the next storm hits.

For now, Nowicki’s death has become a solemn touchpoint across North Texas: a reminder that a brief snow day can carry lasting consequences when recreation shifts onto roads and behind motorized vehicles.

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