A 17-year-old Ponder High School football player has died following a tragic sledding accident during a winter storm, authorities and school officials confirmed. The incident happened Monday afternoon on Amyx Hill Road and has left the close-knit Ponder community mourning the loss of a student described as a leader both on and off the field.
According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, the crash occurred around 2:30 p.m. in the 400 block of Amyx Hill Road. Caden Nowicki, a senior at Ponder High School, was riding inside a kayak that was being towed by an all-terrain vehicle. Investigators said the kayak left the roadway for reasons still under investigation, causing Nowicki to be thrown from the kayak and into a nearby fence.
Nowicki suffered life-threatening injuries in the crash and was airlifted to Medical City Denton for emergency treatment. He remained in critical condition for several days before succumbing to his injuries on Thursday. Ponder High School head football coach Marcus Schulz confirmed his death, describing the loss as devastating for the entire school and athletic community.
The driver of the ATV and a passenger riding on the vehicle were not injured, DPS said. Authorities noted that the investigation into the incident is ongoing and have not released additional details about possible contributing factors. Officials have not indicated whether any charges will be filed as the case remains under review.
Nowicki was remembered by teammates, coaches, and classmates as a dedicated athlete and a positive influence within the school. He was a senior football player who demonstrated leadership, sportsmanship, and kindness, according to those who knew him. In the days following the accident, students and staff rallied around the Nowicki family, offering support and condolences during an extremely difficult time.
A GoFundMe created to assist the Nowicki family with medical and funeral expenses had raised more than $45,000 as of Friday, reflecting the strong outpouring of community support. The tragedy follows a similar winter-weather incident in Frisco, where two 16-year-olds were killed while riding on a sled pulled by a Jeep. Officials continue to urge caution during severe winter conditions, reminding the public that improvised sledding methods can be extremely dangerous.
