Caden Nowicki accident: Texas high school football player dies after sledding crash

Caden Nowicki, a 17-year-old senior and football player at Ponder High School in North Texas, died on Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026, after suffering critical injuries in a winter-weather sledding accident earlier that week. The incident has intensified warnings from local officials about the dangers of being towed behind vehicles on icy roads—especially as similar tragedies have unfolded across the region during the same storm stretch.

Nowicki’s death has prompted an outpouring of grief in his school community and renewed scrutiny of a risky cold-weather pastime that can turn deadly in seconds.

What happened in the sledding crash

Investigators said the crash occurred around 3:30 p.m. ET on Monday, Jan. 26, on Amyx Hill Road in Ponder, in Denton County. An ATV was towing a kayak being used like a sled. The kayak left the roadway and Nowicki was ejected, striking a fence.

Emergency responders transported him to a hospital in critical condition, where he remained in intensive care. The ATV’s driver and another passenger were not injured. The incident remains under review, and no additional enforcement action has been announced publicly.

Who Caden Nowicki was in football

Nowicki was a senior on the Ponder Lions football team and wore No. 44. He played as a linebacker and was recognized with honorable mention all-district honors for the 2025 season. Coaches and school leaders described him as a well-liked student-athlete with strong support across campus.

In small school districts, a player’s role often extends beyond the field—Friday nights, community events, and youth programs can revolve around the team. That’s part of why the shock traveled quickly through Ponder, with classmates, teammates, and parents organizing gatherings to support the family.

A string of deadly towing accidents

Nowicki’s death came as North Texas faced multiple serious incidents tied to towing people on makeshift sleds during wintry conditions. In another widely discussed case, two 16-year-old girls in Frisco died after the sled they were riding on—pulled behind a vehicle—hit a curb and collided with a tree.

While each case has its own facts, the pattern is similar: a towed rider has little control, stopping distances increase sharply on slick surfaces, and even a minor bump can redirect a sled into hard objects at dangerous speeds.

Why towing on ice is so dangerous

Even at low speeds, towing increases risk because:

• Traction and braking are unpredictable on ice and packed sleet.

• Riders have limited steering control, especially on improvised “sleds” like kayaks.

• A sudden change in direction can eject a rider into fences, trees, poles, or parked vehicles.

• Visibility and reaction time drop in winter glare, blowing sleet, and crowded residential streets.

Safety experts generally advise avoiding any towing activity on public roads. If people choose to sled, designated hills away from traffic and rigid obstacles are far safer than being pulled by a vehicle.

What happens next in the community

Ponder ISD has offered counseling resources for students and staff as the school mourns. Community members have also rallied around the family with meals, messages, and an online fundraiser for medical and funeral expenses.

For local leaders, the immediate focus is prevention: pushing clear guidance during future storms and discouraging towing behind vehicles—especially as social media trends can normalize dangerous stunts. For families, the focus is more personal and immediate: grief, support, and remembrance for a teenager whose senior year ended far too soon.

Sources consulted: Texas Department of Public Safety; CBS News; KERA News; People