Caden Nowicki dies after tow-behind sledding crash in North Texas

Caden Nowicki, a 17-year-old high school senior and football player in Ponder, Texas, died Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026 (ET), days after a snow-day sledding setup turned deadly on a rural road in Denton County. The fatal incident involved a kayak being used as a sled and pulled behind an all-terrain vehicle, a scenario safety officials have warned can become uncontrollable in seconds.

Nowicki’s death arrived during a rare stretch of winter weather that put snow and ice on roads across North Texas—conditions that also coincided with other tow-behind sledding crashes in the region.

What happened on Amyx Hill Road

Investigators said the crash occurred on Monday, Jan. 26, around 3:30 p.m. ET in the 400 block of Amyx Hill Road near Ponder. Nowicki was riding inside a kayak being used as a sled while it was towed behind an ATV. The kayak left the roadway, and Nowicki was ejected and struck a metal fence.

He was transported to Medical City Denton with serious injuries, remaining hospitalized for several days before dying Thursday.

Officials identified the ATV driver as Jackson Long, 22, of Yukon, Oklahoma. A passenger on the ATV, Austin Erickson, 18, was also listed in the incident details. Neither was injured. The investigation remained open as of the end of the week, and it was not clear whether any charges would be filed.

A school community in mourning

Nowicki was a senior at Ponder High School and played football, where teammates and coaches described him as a well-liked presence on and off the field. Messages shared by school leadership emphasized support for students and staff, with counselors and community resources made available as classmates processed the loss.

A student vigil was scheduled for Friday, Jan. 30, at 7:00 p.m. ET at First Baptist Church in Ponder, as friends and families gathered to remember him.

Community efforts to assist the Nowicki family also ramped up quickly, including meal support and an online fundraiser focused on medical and funeral expenses.

A wider pattern during the winter storm

Nowicki’s death followed two other teen fatalities in North Texas tied to the same kind of improvised recreation—being pulled behind a motor vehicle on a sled-like device.

In Frisco, two 16-year-old girls, Elizabeth Angle and Grace “Gracie” Brito, were critically injured when the sled they were riding on—pulled behind a Jeep—hit a curb and collided with a tree on Sunday, Jan. 25 (ET). Angle died shortly after the crash, and Brito died two days later.

The close timing of the three deaths has amplified public safety messaging: even at low speeds, towing a sled on streets or near fixed obstacles can create impacts similar to a traffic collision, with little protection for the rider.

Why towing a sled can turn lethal

Safety officials have highlighted that tow-behind sledding combines multiple risks at once: unstable traction, limited stopping distance, and unpredictable movement of the sled. A small change—an icy patch, curb, rut, or minor steering correction—can send the sled sideways or out of the lane before anyone has time to react.

Even when the towing vehicle is moving slowly, the rider can be thrown into fixed hazards common along road edges: fences, trees, poles, parked equipment, or drainage structures. Unlike traditional sledding on a hill, a road environment adds hard surfaces and straight-line speed, while reducing the rider’s ability to steer away from danger.

Safety reminders that officials emphasize

• Avoid tow-behind sledding on roads, driveways, or near fences, trees, and mailboxes.

• Do not attach sleds, tubes, kayaks, or similar items to cars, trucks, or ATVs.

• If sledding is unavoidable, choose an open area well away from traffic and fixed obstacles.

• Treat icy roads as traffic environments, not recreation zones, even during rare snow events.

What happens next in the investigation

Investigators typically review scene evidence, vehicle condition, roadway features, and witness statements to reconstruct how and why the kayak left the roadway. The outcome can range from a finding of no criminal conduct to possible charges tied to reckless behavior, depending on facts established during the inquiry.

In the meantime, Nowicki’s death has become a stark reminder of how quickly a winter “fun” moment can become catastrophic—especially in places unaccustomed to snow, where people often improvise and roads become the default sledding surface.

Sources consulted: Texas Department of Public Safety; NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth; CBS News Texas; People