Ponder High School senior and football player Caden Nowicki remains in the intensive care unit after a sledding crash on Monday that left him critically injured. As the tight-knit Denton County town braces for updates, school leaders and coaches are asking for privacy, prayers and patience while the district coordinates support for the family and keeps details about the accident close to the vest.
District releases statement
In a letter to families, Ponder ISD Superintendent James Hill identified the student as Caden Nowicki and described him as “an outstanding young man who is loved by many,” according to The Dallas Morning News. Hill asked the community to keep Caden, his family and friends in their thoughts and prayers and urged everyone to respect their privacy while officials gather more information. The district confirmed that Nowicki is still in the intensive care unit.
How neighbors are helping
Ponder ISD is collecting food gift cards for the Nowicki family, with donations to be dropped off at the high school’s front office or athletic office once classes resume, according to CBS News Texas. Classmates and local groups have been sharing messages of support and coordinating practical help in the days since the accident, KRLD reported.
Coach’s plea and privacy request
Ponder football coach Marcus Schulz took to social media to ask for prayers for his player, while the district again urged the public to give the family space as they navigate the crisis, according to FOX 4. The station noted that officials have not released specifics about what caused the accident or the exact nature of Nowicki’s injuries.
Nearby crash underscores the danger
The Ponder tragedy comes as North Texas hospitals deal with a surge in sledding injuries tied to this week’s winter storm. In Frisco, a sled being towed by a vehicle hit a curb and then a tree, critically injuring two 16-year-olds and leaving another teen dead, according to CBS News Texas. Emergency departments across the region have reported a sharp uptick in sledding-related trauma since the ice rolled in.
Doctors urge simple precautions
Medical leaders say this week’s Texas snow was packed with ice and far more treacherous than the fluffy powder people might expect, with head injuries showing up frequently in emergency rooms, The Dallas Morning News reported. Doctors quoted in the paper advised wearing helmets, sledding feet-first and one at a time, steering clear of being towed behind vehicles and picking hills that end in a flat, open area to avoid high-speed crashes into trees or curbs.
For now, Ponder ISD has said it will share updates on Nowicki’s condition as they become available and continues to ask the public to respect the family’s privacy. School officials also requested that anyone wanting to help use the district’s official gift card collection effort rather than starting separate private fundraisers, according to FOX 4.
