@fox4newsdallasfortworth The parents of the teen who died in a Frisco sledding accident spoke to FOX 4 about the tragedy, remembering their daughter as a child full of kindness who spread that to others. Elizabeth Angle, a 16-year-old sophomore at Wakeland High School, died on Sunday after a sled being towed by a Jeep struck a tree in Frisco. There is now a memorial at the scene of the crash and Angle’s school is preparing to honor her during second period once classes resume.
‘We just don’t want her name to go away’: Family of teen victim in Frisco sledding incident speaks on tragedy
The Brief
The parents of the teen who died in a Frisco sledding accident spoke to FOX 4 about the tragedy, remembering their daughter as a child full of kindness who spread that to others.
Elizabeth Angle, a 16-year-old sophomore at Wakeland High School, died on Sunday after a sled being towed by a Jeep struck a tree in Frisco. Another teenager is still in critical condition from the accident.
There is now a memorial at the scene of the crash and Angle’s school is preparing to honor her during second period once classes resume.
FRISCO, Texas – The family of the teen killed in a Frisco sledding accident last weekend spoke for the first time since the accident.
Elizabeth Angle’s parents remember their daughter
What they’re saying:
Megan and Brian Angle remember Elizabeth Angle as a smart, gifted teenager with a core value of kindness who spread that kindness to others.
“She was really pretty inside and out,” Brian Angle, her father, told FOX 4’s Peyton Yager. “And goofy.”
She was a skilled soccer player who represented both Wakeland High School and an FC Dallas club team.
“We are just regular people. We just try to be good parents, and it’s just one of those where you hear these stories like oh, that will never happen to me. And it did,” Megan Angle, her mother, said.
“We just don’t want her name to go away,” Brian continued.
Frisco police say a 16-year-old male was driving a Jeep Wrangler on a residential street, pulling Elizabeth and her friend on a sled Sunday afternoon.
Witnesses told officers the sled hit a curb and collided with a tree at the intersection of Majestic Gardens Drive and Killian Court.
Elizabeth later died at the hospital. The other teen involved remains in the ICU in critical condition.
Dig deeper:
The Angles are taking this moment to send a message to parents, warning them of the safety risks posed by weather like this.
“I know kids think they are invincible. It was literally an instant,” Megan continued. “She was with her best friend. They were holding on to each other.”
Brian Angle wondered what his daughter would say if she was still here.
“Yeah, and if Elizabeth was sitting here right now. And you asked her what would you want to tell everybody? She would just tell you to be kind. That was thing,” Brian continued.
“I think today I really felt it. But last night when I was going to sleep, I really could feel her. And that made me feel really comforted,” Megan said. “I believe she is in a better place. And we will see her again.”
What’s next:
The 16-year-old girl who survived the accident remains in critical condition and is on life support, according to Angle’s mother.
Frisco police said that they are still investigating and that the Denton County District Attorney’s Office will determine if anyone should face charges.
Wakeland High School will reportedly honor Angle during second period once classes resume. The school will also offer support for her grieving classmates and teachers throughout the day.
The ordinary rhythm of a Sunday afternoon in Frisco, Texas, on January 25, 2026, masked the impending tragedy for 16-year-old best friends Elizabeth “Lizzie” Angle and Grace “Gracie” Brito. Family members have shared that, in the hours leading up to the fatal sledding accident, the girls exchanged routine, loving messages with their mothers—discussions about homework assignments, upcoming practices (soccer for Lizzie, cheer for Gracie), and simple dinner plans. Nothing in those texts hinted at danger or unusual activity; they were the everyday exchanges of busy high school sophomores navigating school, sports, and family life at Wakeland High School.
What haunts the families now is the stark realization that those final, mundane messages were sent less than two hours before the crash. Around 2:26 p.m. that day, amid a rare winter storm blanketing North Texas with snow and ice, the girls climbed onto a sled being towed by a Jeep Wrangler driven by another 16-year-old boy in a residential neighborhood near Majestic Gardens Drive and Killian Court. Witnesses described the ride as initially fun but quickly chaotic: the sled struck a curb, lost control, and collided violently with a tree. The impact ejected both girls, causing life-threatening injuries. Lizzie died shortly after arriving at the hospital, while Gracie was placed on life support and passed away on January 27 or 28, depending on reports.
The contrast between those last normal texts and the sudden horror has deepened the families’ grief. Parents recount rereading the messages—innocent check-ins like “How was practice?” or “What’s for dinner?”—as a painful reminder of how fragile and unpredictable life can be. In interviews and statements shared through local media, the Angles and Britos have expressed how those ordinary words now carry an unbearable weight: proof of vibrant lives interrupted without warning. Megan Angle, Lizzie’s mother, has spoken of her daughter’s bright spirit and bravery, while Tracy Brito, Gracie’s mother, described her as a “kind and generous soul” full of warmth and compassion. The families emphasize that the girls were inseparable, often holding onto each other even in their final moments on the sled—a detail that symbolizes their unbreakable bond.
This timeline underscores broader themes in the tragedy. At 16, the girls were typical teens: excited about driver’s licenses (Gracie had proudly registered as an organ donor just months earlier), passionate about their sports, and eager to seize the rare chance for snow play in a state where heavy winter weather is infrequent. The decision to join the sled ride appears impulsive, born from the thrill of the moment rather than premeditated risk. Families note Gracie initially hesitated but went along with Lizzie’s enthusiasm—another fleeting choice that, in hindsight, changed everything.
The Frisco Police Department, aided by the Denton County District Attorney’s Office, continues investigating factors like vehicle speed, road conditions, towing safety, and driver actions. No alcohol was involved, and the focus remains on reconstructing the sequence. Towing people on sleds behind vehicles—especially on icy neighborhood streets with curbs and trees—carries inherent dangers: reduced control, potential for high-speed ejections, and challenges for young drivers in split-second decisions. Safety experts and authorities routinely warn against such activities, particularly without adult supervision or proper equipment.
In the aftermath, the community has united in mourning. Wakeland High School held tributes, including moments of silence at events. A prayer vigil took place at St. Philip’s Episcopal Church. The Angle family established the Elizabeth Angle Foundation to provide scholarships and support for youth pursuing passions like athletics and community service, honoring Lizzie’s kind-spirited legacy. Gracie’s organ donation proceeds as planned, fulfilling her selfless wish to help others—a final act of generosity from a girl who “always wanted to make others smile.”
These last normal messages serve as a haunting reminder: life’s most profound losses often follow the most unremarkable moments. For the Angle and Brito families, the shift from texting about homework to facing unimaginable grief in under two hours illustrates how quickly joy can turn to sorrow. As Frisco heals, the stories of Lizzie and Gracie endure—two compassionate, inseparable friends whose ordinary Sunday exchanges now echo as a call for vigilance in everyday adventures, especially amid rare weather and youthful excitement.
