FERN DEATHS
Cheerleader, 16, and soccer star best friend killed after sled towed by Jeep smashed into tree – as storm deaths hit 62
A TEEN cheerleader and her soccer star best friend have died after smashing into a tree as they were pulled on a sled by a Jeep.
Grace Brito, 16, suffered life-threatening injuries alongside close friend Elizabeth Angle after the tragic incident on Sunday afternoon.
Elizabeth Angle and Grace Brito died after a sledding accident in Texas on SundayCredit: Instagram/elizabeth.anglee
Grace was an All-Star cheer competitor at Express Cheer in FriscoCredit: Instagram/elizabeth.anglee
The 16-year-old had been on life support since the weekend tragedyCredit: Instagram/gracie.brito
On Tuesday, Grace’s family confirmed that she had been taken off life support.
The devastating incident unfolded in Frisco, Texas, outside Dallas Fort Worth, when the girls were enjoying sledding with friends, police said.
It comes as winter storm deaths nationwide hit at least 62, with officials blaming the brutal cold, snow and ice for fatalities across multiple states, according to USA Today.
Elizabeth, who was a star soccer player, died soon after the crash.
Grace’s mom, Tracy Brito, said in a statement, “We are a family of four – myself, my husband, Grace and Emma,” noting that Emma is a freshman at Louisiana State University, CBS affiliate KTVT reported.
“Our family is heartbroken and devastated by the loss of our beautiful daughter, Gracie,” she added.
Tracy remembered her daughter as “a kind and generous soul, full of love, affection, and warmth,” who had “gentle strength,” the outlet said.
She said Grace had recently gotten her driver’s license.
Tracy added that the family would honor Grace’s wishes after she proudly registered as an organ donor.
Grace was an All-Star cheer competitor at Express Cheer in Frisco, her mom said.
She said Grace “Valued teamwork, friendship, and encouragement. She took pride in lifting others up.”
“She was creative, strong-minded, and a VERY bubbly girl,” Tracy added.
The family said the days since the crash have been “unimaginably difficult,” and Tracy said the girls had been “inseparable,” according to the outlet.
Winter Storm Fern Death Toll
At least 60 people have died after Winter Storm Fern raged across the country over the weekend, bringing frigid temperatures, snow, and ice
Louisiana: 2 dead from hypothermia, and an 86-year-old man died from carbon monoxide poisoning
Tennessee: 3 dead from weather related incidents
Massachusetts: A woman, 51, died after being struck with a snowplow on Saturday. The woman and her husband were struck by a contractor driving an F-150 plow. Her husband, 47, was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries
Arkansas: A 17-year-old boy died after hitting a tree in a sledding accident. A 40-year-old man died in an ATV
Michigan: Lucas Mattson, 19, was found dead by University of Michigan police after he was last seen walking alone without a coat
New York: 8 dead in New York City from “weather-related circumstances.” On Long Island, Roger McGovern, 60, died while shoveling out a church
Kansas: Rebecca Rauber, 28, was found dead after leaving a bar without a coat
Texas: A 16-year-old girl died after hitting a tree in a sledding accident. A man was also discovered frozen to death in Austin
Pennsylvania: 3 people ranging from 60 to 84 years old died while removing snow
Mississippi: 2 dead from weather-related incidents
Ohio: Richard Coelho Jr., 49, was hit by a snowplow while driving a snowmobile
South Carolina: A 96-year-old woman died of hypothermia
New Jersey: A 67-year-old man died while shoveling snow.
“She was one of Grace’s best friends,” she said.
“They were always together at each other’s house.”
“We will miss her till the day we die,” Tracy said.
“She is our guardian angel now. #GraceStrongForever.”
Tributes also poured in for Elizabeth, with FC Dallas club team coach Luis Ramos writing on Facebook that she was a center back who was a “calm voice” and “knew what it meant to stand her ground.”
“God called her home not in defeat, but in victory. Still guarding. Still strong. Now standing watch from higher ground,” Ramos wrote, in part.
“Elizabeth, our defender. Our teammate. Forever part of us.”
HORROR DEATHS
In New York City, officials said they are reviewing eight deaths after people were found outside in “weather-related circumstances,” Mayor Zohran Mamdani said.
The brutal weather also snarled air travel across the region.
Flights at LaGuardia Airport were hit with major delays on Tuesday, the Federal Aviation Administration said.
Delays stretched up to three-and-a-half hours Tuesday afternoon, with average waits near two hours and disruptions expected to continue into the evening.
As of 8:40 am, 12,215 flights were delayed, and 1,137 were canceled nationwide, according to FlightAware.
A makeshift memorial is shown at the site in Frisco, TexasCredit: AP
Over 60 people have now died nationwide in storm-related incidents, according to officials and reportsCredit: AP
The brutal weather also snarled air travel across the regionCredit: AP
THE TREE WASN’T THE FIRST IMPACT: According to witness testimony, the snowmobile carrying Elizabeth Angle and Grace “Gracie” Briton collided with several surfaces before crashing into the tree, then a strange object appeared. This puzzling detail prompted a review of the 5-second CCTV footage
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 has gained new investigative focus from witness testimony indicating the sled (towed by a Jeep Wrangler) collided with several surfaces before the fatal impact with the tree. This sequence prompted Frisco Police to review 5-second CCTV footage from a nearby residence or business, where a strange object appeared in the frame during or immediately after the crash—raising questions about debris dynamics, ejection patterns, or an unrelated anomaly.
Witness Testimony: Multiple Impacts Before the Tree
According to Frisco Police updates and witness statements, the ride began spontaneously (planned in under five minutes, per prior details). The 16-year-old driver towed the sled with Elizabeth and Gracie through the snowy residential area near Majestic Gardens Drive and Killian Court.
Witnesses described the sled bouncing or striking multiple surfaces—likely including the initial low curb (a few inches high, as previously noted), possibly additional curbs, driveway aprons, or uneven snowy patches—before the decisive collision with the tree.
This multi-impact sequence suggests progressive loss of control: the first curb strike destabilized the sled (causing yaw or lift), subsequent contacts exacerbated instability, and the tree delivered the catastrophic stop.
The girls were ejected violently; personal items clustered tightly near the sled, and immediate silence post-crash indicated abrupt, high-force trauma.
The tree was not the first impact, shifting reconstruction from a single-obstacle event to a chain reaction on slippery, uneven terrain—common in neighborhood streets during rare Texas snow.
The Strange Object and 5-Second CCTV Review
The puzzling element emerged from witness recollections prompting police to examine short CCTV footage (approximately 5 seconds long, likely from a home security camera or doorbell system facing the street). In the clip:
The sled/Jeep sequence is captured at the moment of final loss of control.
A strange object—described vaguely in investigative notes as appearing suddenly (possibly airborne debris, a dislodged vehicle part like the previously noted spare tire anomaly, or an unexplained item)—materializes in the frame near the impact zone.
Its sudden appearance doesn’t align neatly with expected trajectories (e.g., ejected from the sled/Jeep in a predictable arc) or scene debris patterns.
This prompted a detailed review:
Frame-by-frame analysis for origin (sled, Jeep, girls’ belongings, or external?).
Correlation with clustered items at the scene and witness multi-impact accounts.
Potential to clarify ejection forces, secondary collisions, or mechanical factors (e.g., towing rope snap, sled flip).
Police have not publicly identified the object or released the footage, citing the ongoing investigation (assisted by Denton County DA). No charges filed; alcohol ruled out. The detail adds to prior anomalies: spare tire’s inconsistent location, abrupt silence, clustered belongings.
The Victims and Community Mourning
Elizabeth “Lizzie” Angle, a Wakeland High School sophomore and soccer player, died shortly after hospital arrival. Her family remembered her holding onto Gracie—”together forever.” Grace “Gracie” Brito, a compassionate cheerleader with Express Cheer, passed on January 27 after life support; her organ donation fulfilled her wish to help others.
Frisco ISD, Wakeland High, and the community held vigils and fundraisers. The accident, amid a winter storm surge in sledding injuries, highlights towed-sled dangers: rapid speeds, hidden obstacles, impulsive decisions.
This multi-impact sequence and CCTV object continue to refine understanding of those fatal seconds—reminding us how quickly joy turns tragic without safety margins.
