The tragic sledding accident in Frisco, Texas, on January 25, 2026, that claimed the lives of 16-year-old best friends Elizabeth “Lizzie” Angle and Grace “Gracie” Brito continues to yield puzzling details from the crash scene. Among the personal items and debris documented by Frisco police investigators, one object stood out for its anomalous position: a spare tire found closer to the tree than to the Jeep Wrangler (the towing vehicle), a placement police described as inconsistent with predictable patterns of how items typically disperse in such collisions.

This finding has added another layer of complexity to the ongoing investigation, prompting questions about the exact dynamics of the crash and how various objects came to rest where they did.

Scene Evidence: The Spare Tire’s Mysterious Placement

Police reports and witness statements confirm the setup: a 16-year-old boy drove a Jeep Wrangler towing a sled carrying Angle and Brito through a snowy residential neighborhood near Majestic Gardens Drive and Killian Court. The sled struck a low curb (a few inches high), lost control, and collided with a tree. The girls were ejected, suffering fatal injuries—Elizabeth died shortly after hospital arrival on January 25, while Gracie passed on January 27 after life support.

At the scene, investigators cataloged scattered items, including the girls’ personal belongings clustered near the sled (as previously noted, indicating an abrupt halt). But the spare tire—likely from the Jeep Wrangler, which often carries an external or rear-mounted spare—drew attention for its location.

It was positioned closer to the impact tree than to the Jeep’s final resting spot.
This contradicted expected trajectories: in a towing accident, detached or dislodged parts from the vehicle usually remain nearer the vehicle or follow a path along its momentum. A spare tire detaching and traveling farther forward toward the tree suggests unusual forces—perhaps violent rotation, secondary impacts, or the sled/ropes interacting with the vehicle in unexpected ways.

Investigators consider this inconsistent with predictable patterns because:

Standard physics in forward-motion crashes would place vehicle-origin items (like a spare) behind or near the Jeep if it braked or swerved post-impact.
The tire’s forward bias implies it may have been propelled ahead—possibly if the Jeep lurched or spun upon the sled’s curb strike, or if the towing setup (rope/snag) caused a jerk that dislodged it violently.
No public reports mention the tire detaching during the ride, so its origin and how it ended up nearer the tree remain unclear, fueling scrutiny of vehicle mechanics, speed, and the chain of events.

The detail aligns with other scene observations: the abrupt silence post-impact, clustered personal items, and the curb’s role as the initial disruptor. Together, they paint a picture of a highly chaotic, multi-force collision where conventional debris patterns broke down.

Ongoing Investigation and Unanswered Questions

Frisco police, assisted by the Denton County District Attorney’s Office, continue examining factors like:

Vehicle speed on icy surfaces.
Towing method (rope length, attachment points).
Potential mechanical issues (e.g., could the spare have been loose?).
The curb-tree sequence and resulting forces.

No charges have been announced, and alcohol was ruled out. The spare tire’s odd location may help reconstruct the seconds between curb impact and tree collision—perhaps indicating a spin, rollover attempt, or secondary ejection of vehicle parts.

Remembering the Victims Amid the Details

Elizabeth Angle, a Wakeland High School sophomore and soccer player, was remembered by her family for her kindness and light. Her mother shared that the girls were “holding on to each other” during the ride, a final act of their unbreakable bond. “Together forever,” she wrote in tributes.

Gracie Brito, a cheerleader with Express Cheer, was described as warm, generous, and full of love. Her family fulfilled her wish to become an organ donor, allowing her selflessness to save lives posthumously.

The Frisco community has responded with vigils, school memorials, and fundraisers, turning grief into remembrance of two compassionate teens whose laughter was heard just 90 minutes before tragedy.

Safety Lessons from a Rare Winter Tragedy

This incident, part of a spike in sledding injuries during North Texas’s unusual snow, highlights risks of vehicle-towed sledding:

Uncontrolled speeds on ice.
Hidden curbs and trees as lethal obstacles.
Potential for unexpected mechanical failures or dislodgments.

Experts reiterate: use designated hills, avoid towing behind vehicles, supervise closely, and prioritize helmets and caution.

The spare tire— an object whose final location defies easy explanation—serves as a quiet, haunting piece of evidence. It reminds us how even small anomalies in a crash scene can reveal the unpredictable violence of those final moments, leaving families and investigators searching for answers in the aftermath.