WASHINGTON — A Texas community is mourning the loss of a high school senior after a sledding accident turned fatal, underscoring growing safety concerns as winter storms blanket regions unaccustomed to snow and ice.
Caden Nowicki, 17, a senior at Ponder Independent School District in Denton County, died Thursday after suffering critical injuries earlier this week while sledding, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety and school officials. Authorities said Nowicki was riding in a kayak that was being towed behind an all-terrain vehicle Monday afternoon when the kayak left the roadway. He was ejected and struck a fence.
Nowicki was airlifted to a nearby hospital but succumbed to his injuries days later.
“With heavy hearts our #44 Caden Nowicki crossed through the gates into our heavenly Father’s arms today,” Ponder ISD Athletic Director and head football coach Marcus Schulz wrote in a social media tribute, reflecting the deep impact of the loss on the school’s athletic and student communities.
Superintendent James Hill described Nowicki as “an outstanding young man who is loved by many,” adding that the district is collecting food gift cards to support the family. Counseling services have also been made available to students and staff.
The ATV driver, identified as 22-year-old Jackson Long of Oklahoma, and another passenger were not injured. DPS officials say the investigation remains ongoing.
Nowicki’s death comes amid a troubling pattern. In recent days, multiple teenagers across Texas and neighboring states have died in similar incidents, including two 16-year-old girls in Frisco, Texas, and a 17-year-old boy in Arkansas. In each case, officials say improvised sledding—often involving vehicles—played a role.
Public safety experts warn that towing sleds, kayaks, or tubes behind vehicles dramatically increases the risk of severe injury or death, particularly on icy roads. As winter weather spreads into southern regions less familiar with snow conditions, authorities continue to urge residents to avoid vehicle-assisted sledding and to prioritize caution during rare but dangerous storms.