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A high school cheerleader and her best friend, known for her soccer prowess, tragically lost their lives when a sled they were riding, towed by a Jeep, collided with a tree.
The 16-year-old cheerleader, who had been on life support following the weekend accident, passed away on Tuesday, according to a confirmation from her grieving family.
Elizabeth Angle, one of the teens and a talented soccer player, was the first to succumb to her injuries, according to family and friends.
It comes as winter storm deaths nationwide hit at least 50, with officials blaming the brutal cold, snow and ice for fatalities across multiple states.
One of the teens, soccer player Elizabeth Angle, died first, family and loved ones said.
Her best friend, Grace Brito, known as Gracie, later died on Tuesday, according to CBS affiliate KTVT.
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Grace’s mom, Tracy Brito, said in a statement, “We are a family of four – myself, my husband, Grace and Emma,” noting Emma is a freshman at Louisiana State University (LSU), according to KTVT.
“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 30 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.”
Over 30 people have now died nationwide in storm-related incidents, according to officials and reports.
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.
