DENTON COUNTY, Texas — The Ponder and Denton County communities are mourning the heartbreaking loss of Caden Lake Nowicki, 17, a senior student-athlete at Ponder High School, who died Thursday after suffering critical injuries in a sledding-related accident earlier this week, according to school officials and the Texas Department of Public Safety.
The incident occurred Monday along Amyx Hill Road in Denton County. DPS investigators determined that Caden was riding inside a kayak being towed by an all-terrain vehicle when the kayak left the roadway. Troopers said Caden was ejected from the kayak and struck a metal fence.
Emergency responders rushed Caden to Medical City Denton Hospital, where he remained in critical condition for several days. Despite medical efforts, school officials confirmed that Caden succumbed to his injuries on Thursday.
Caden was a varsity football player and a cherished member of the Ponder High School community. Loved ones describe him as a young man whose spirit brought people together. In a message shared through a GoFundMe campaign established to assist the family, supporters said that in his final days, Caden taught those around him about love, unity, faith, and community, lessons they say will remain with them forever.
His death marks at least the third sledding-related teen fatality in North Texas this week, amid winter weather that has impacted roadways across the region. Public safety officials continue to warn against vehicle-pulled sledding, calling it unpredictable and extremely dangerous, particularly on paved roads and in icy conditions.
The crash remains under investigation, and authorities have not announced whether charges will be filed. As the community grieves, thoughts and prayers remain with the Nowicki family, whose loss has left an immeasurable void.
Caden Nowicki will be remembered for his strength, kindness, and the lasting impact he made in his 17 years of life
