Teenage Girl Killed, Another Seriously Injured in Horrific Sledding Accident During Snowstorm

A rare Texas snowstorm turned deadly over the weekend after a sledding accident in North Texas left one teenage girl dead and another fighting for her life.

Police in Frisco, about 30 miles north of Dallas, said the crash happened just before 2:30 p.m. Saturday as winter weather blanketed the region with snow and ice. According to WFAA, a 16-year-old boy was driving a Jeep that was pulling two 16-year-old girls on a sled.

Witnesses told officers the sled struck a curb and then slammed into a tree.

Both girls were rushed to nearby hospitals. One of them later died from her injuries, while the second remained in critical condition as of Sunday, authorities said. None of the teens involved have been publicly identified, and it was not immediately clear whether charges will be filed.

Residents in the area said the sudden tragedy was shocking.

“I don’t know what they told their parents what they were doing,” Melissa Trevino told NBC Dallas-Fort Worth. “But my neighbor said he saw a Jeep pulling kids on a sled, and a few minutes later there were police cars everywhere, caution tape, and you knew something really bad had happened.”

The accident occurred as Arctic air pushed deep into Texas, dumping up to five inches of snow and sleet across parts of the Dallas–Fort Worth area, according to KDFW. Icy road conditions were reported throughout the region, creating dangerous conditions for drivers and pedestrians alike.

While the storm brought back memories for many Texans of the catastrophic February 2021 freeze, officials said this weekend’s weather was far less severe. That historic storm left millions without power, caused an estimated $200 billion in damage, and resulted in 246 winter storm-related deaths statewide, according to The Houston Chronicle.

This latest cold snap is expected to be short-lived. A winter storm warning for North and Central Texas expired Monday, though an extreme cold warning remains in effect through Tuesday morning. Forecasters say increased sunshine should help melt lingering ice, with temperatures expected to rise above freezing by late Tuesday and approach 40 degrees by the afternoon.

According to the Weather Channel, at least two storm-related deaths have been reported in Texas during the weekend. It remains unclear whether the teen killed in the Frisco sledding accident is included in that total.