16-year-old Texas cheerleader Grace Brito was put on life support after she and her best friend met with an unfortunate sledding incident. Elizabeth ‘Lizzie’ Angle, Grace’s best friend, was pronounced dead when brought to the hospital, and Grace was put on life support.
Unfortunately, Grace also passed away on Tuesday night, as confirmed by her family. According CBS News, the incident took place on Sunday, January 25, 2026, when the girls were riding a sled pulled by a Jeep Wrangler driven by another teenager.
The tragedy has devastated not only the two teenagers’ families but also the Frisco community. In a statement, Grace’s mother, Tracy Brito, mentioned, “We are a family of four – myself, my husband, Grace and Emma. Our family is heartbroken and devastated by the loss of our beautiful daughter, Gracie.” She also noted that Emma is a Freshman at LSU.
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Tracy further mentioned that Grace was “a kind and generous soul, full of love, affection, and warmth” and said that she had a “gentle strength” in her personality.
She also added that her now deceased daughter had recently gotten her driver’s license and was quite excited about it. Grace had also listed herself as an organ donor and her family will be honoring that wish of hers.
Grace was a dedicated All‑Star cheer competitor at Express Cheer in Frisco and her hard work there helped her build close bonds with mentors and teammates.
Talking about the same, Tracy said, “She valued teamwork, friendship, and encouragement, and she took pride in lifting others up. She was creative, strong‑minded, and a VERY bubbly girl.”
Tracy also talked about Grace and Angle’s friendship, adding, “She was one of Grace’s best friends. They were always together at each other’s house.”
She further mentioned how this has been an extremely difficult time and expressed her gratitude for the love and support her family has been receiving from the community and friends, and relatives.
Express Dance & Cheer also came forward with their statement as the organization told KTVT, “Grace had grown up to become a leader” and they were “lucky to have had time with her.”
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Their statement further added, “We will continue to honor Gracie every way we can and look for her in everything we do. Her kindness and optimism will never be forgotten, and we will hold her memory close to our hearts. Our Express family will always have a guardian angel looking over us, and we cling to the fact that Gracie is eternally safe and surrounded by peace.”
Frisco police are still investigating the incident and it remains unclear whether the 16-year-old boy who was driving would be charged.
