Tragic Loss on Frozen Fields: Texas Teen Football Star Caden Nowicki’s Fatal Sledding Crash Shakes a Community Amid Winter Storm Fury
Seventeen-year-old Caden Nowicki was the kind of young man small-town Texas produces with pride: tough on the football field, gentle off it, and loved by just about everyone who knew him. A senior inside linebacker for the Ponder Lions, wearing the No. 44 jersey with unmistakable intensity, Caden represented everything good about high school sports in North Texas — heart, hustle, and loyalty. On January 29, 2026, that bright future ended in seconds during a backyard sledding accident that has devastated Ponder and left a lasting scar across the region.
Winter Storm Fern had swept through North Texas earlier that week, dropping several inches of rare, heavy snow across Denton County. For a place where snow usually arrives once every few years — if at all — the white landscape felt magical to most residents. Kids and teenagers poured outside, building snowmen, throwing snowballs, and turning any open field or hill into an instant sledding run. For Caden and his friends, the snow represented a once-in-a-lifetime chance to play in conditions most Texans only see on television.
Around 2:30 p.m. on that Monday afternoon, a small group gathered on a rural property outside Ponder. They didn’t have traditional sleds or toboggans, so they improvised. Caden climbed into a kayak. The kayak was then attached by rope to an ATV. Twenty-two-year-old Jackson Long from Yukon, Oklahoma, was driving the ATV, with 18-year-old Austin Erickson riding as a passenger. The idea was straightforward: pull the kayak across the snowy field at moderate speed, creating a fast, fun ride that would end with laughter and maybe a few wipeouts in soft snow.
Everything changed in an instant.
The ATV accelerated. The kayak picked up speed quickly on the icy surface. Witnesses later said the group was shouting and laughing as the makeshift sled glided forward. Then something went wrong — perhaps a rut in the ground, a sudden turn, or simply too much momentum on an unprepared surface. The kayak veered sharply. Caden, who was not strapped in, was thrown out violently. He flew through the air and struck a fence with devastating force.
Friends rushed to him immediately. Blood quickly spread across the snow. Someone called 911. Emergency responders arrived within minutes. Because of the severity of his injuries — believed to include major head trauma and spinal damage — Caden was airlifted to a trauma center. Doctors placed him in the ICU and fought to save him.
For the next three days, the Nowicki family kept vigil beside his bed. The Ponder High School community rallied in a powerful way. Hundreds of students, former teammates, coaches, teachers, and parents posted messages using #PrayForCaden and #LionStrong. Rival schools sent condolences. Local businesses put up signs. The entire town seemed to hold its breath.
On Thursday, February 1, 2026, Caden passed away.
The Texas Department of Public Safety confirmed the news in an official release, stating that the investigation into the incident remained active. Jackson Long and Austin Erickson were not injured in the crash. No immediate arrests were announced, and early reports indicated that alcohol and drugs were not believed to be factors. The tragedy appeared to result from a terrible combination of speed, slick conditions, and an inherently dangerous activity.
Caden’s death was the third sledding fatality involving a North Texas teenager in less than a week.
On January 25, in Frisco — only about 35 miles from Ponder — 16-year-old cheerleader Grace Brito and her best friend, 16-year-old soccer player Elizabeth Angle, were riding in a sled being towed by a Jeep. The vehicle lost control on icy ground and collided with a tree. Elizabeth died at the scene. Grace was rushed to the hospital but was removed from life support two days later on January 27.
Three young lives extinguished in almost identical circumstances within days of each other. All three incidents involved motorized vehicles towing people on sleds across snow and ice. All three ended in catastrophic collisions.
Winter Storm Fern had been ferocious. The system brought record-breaking cold and snow to large parts of the South and Midwest. In North Texas, accumulations reached up to five inches in some places — enough to paralyze roads, cancel flights, close schools, and create widespread power outages. Governor Greg Abbott declared a state of emergency covering dozens of counties. National Guard units were deployed to assist with rescues and deliver supplies.
While the storm caused widespread hardship, it also created a rare playground for young people who rarely see snow. Police departments across the region had issued warnings before the fatalities began. The Argyle Police Department posted a widely shared message days earlier:
“We love winter weather fun as much as anyone, but we are seeing far too many people pulling sleds behind cars, trucks, and ATVs. The speeds can become extremely high very quickly, and the results have been serious injuries and fatalities.”
Their warning proved tragically accurate.
Trauma surgeons and emergency physicians later explained why these accidents are so deadly. When a person is towed behind a vehicle traveling 20–40 mph across uneven, icy terrain, even a small bump or sudden stop can launch them like a projectile. Unlike purpose-built sleds with brakes and steering, kayaks, plastic discs, and inner tubes offer no control once momentum builds. Hitting a fence post, tree, or even hard-packed snow at that velocity frequently causes unsurvivable head and neck injuries.
In the aftermath of Caden’s death, Ponder High School closed for a day of mourning and counseling. The football team gathered in the weight room where Caden had spent countless hours. Coach Marcus Schulz posted a tribute that spread rapidly online:
“With the heaviest hearts, our #44 Caden Nowicki crossed through the gates into our Heavenly Father’s arms today. God hand-selected His inside linebacker. Please keep praying for the Nowicki family. Rest easy and fly high, #44.”
The school announced plans to retire Caden’s jersey number permanently. A memorial scholarship fund was created to help future Ponder athletes from modest backgrounds pursue college opportunities — something Caden himself had dreamed of achieving.
The Nowicki family released a short but heartfelt statement through their church:
“Caden was taken far too soon. He lived with passion, loved deeply, and left an impact that will never fade. We are overwhelmed by the love and support pouring in. Please give us space to grieve.”
A GoFundMe campaign to help cover medical costs and funeral expenses surpassed $50,000 within the first day and continued to grow as news spread.
Across North Texas, communities began taking action. Several school districts announced they would add winter-weather safety lessons to health and driver-education classes. Local police departments reiterated their pleas to avoid towing sleds behind vehicles. Some lawmakers started discussing whether stronger public-awareness campaigns or even limited regulations around motorized sledding might be needed.
Caden Nowicki was remembered not only as an athlete but as a person who made everyone around him better. He volunteered at church youth events, helped younger kids with football drills, and was known for checking on friends who were struggling. Teammates recalled how he would be the first to celebrate someone else’s success and the last to leave the field after practice.
One former teammate wrote:
“He’d hit you as hard as anyone on the field, then help you up and ask if you were okay. That was Caden. Tough as nails and kind to the core.”
As the snow melted and life slowly returned to normal in Ponder, the loss remained raw. Flags flew at half-staff at the high school. Pink and blue ribbons — colors Caden liked — appeared on fences, mailboxes, and car mirrors. A large memorial mural began taking shape on a wall near the football field.
Winter storms will come again. Snow will fall again — maybe not for years, but eventually. When it does, thousands of young people across Texas will feel the same temptation Caden and his friends felt: the urge to seize a rare moment of winter joy.
This time, they will carry the memory of a 17-year-old linebacker who loved the game, loved his people, and was loved in return — right up until the moment the snow turned tragic.
Rest in peace, #44.
