At least 5 deaths span multiple states as massive winter storm leaves trail of damage across the US
Five people have died in the historic winter storm that impacted 40 states this weekend.
Historic winter storm kicks off in Texas
A massive winter storm that is impacting over 40 states has begun blanketing the Plains with freezing rain and sleet. Up to a foot of snow is expected in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. Winter weather alerts are in effect in areas from Texas all the way up to New England.
FRISCO, Texas - At least five people have died as a result of the historic winter storm that's drastically impacted millions of Americans across dozens of states this weekend, causing hundreds of thousands of power outages and many flight disruptions across the U.S.
A 16-year-old girl died and another teen is in critical condition after a tragic sledding accident during an intense winter storm in Frisco, Texas.
Investigators believe a 16-year-old boy was driving a Jeep Wrangler while pulling the two girls on a sled. Witnesses told police that the sled struck a curb and then collided with a tree.
DEADLY HISTORIC WINTER STORM BLASTS 245M: SNOW SLAMS NORTHEAST AS ICE CRIPPLES THE SOUTH
The Frisco Police Department said they responded to the area of Majestic Gardens Drive and Killian Court around 2:30 p.m. CST for a reported accident.
Authorities said they found two 16-year-old girls with life-threatening injuries. They were both transported to the hospital where one died, and the other girl remains in critical condition, according to the police department.
The Tennessee Valley Authority, a major utility across the South, said freezing rain and sleet caused power interruptions across both TVA-owned transmission lines and local distribution networks in northern Mississippi, northern Alabama, Kentucky, Middle Tennessee and parts of East Tennessee.
(TVAnews/X / FOX Weather)
At the time of the accident, about an inch of sleet was on the ground due to the historic winter storm moving through much of the country this weekend, according to the FOX Forecast Center.
The police department urges people to keep in mind that snow and ice can create extremely slippery surfaces and lead to serious or even deadly accidents.
Snow looks like its turning icy in Texarkana, TX
(Shelby Carmichael / FOX Weather)
"Please stay alert, stay indoors when possible and avoid any unnecessary outdoor activity until conditions improve. Your safety comes first," police said in a statement.
It's not the first death reported because of the winter storm. Also in Texas, a person died in the cold in Austin. In Arkansas, a person died, and several others sustained injuries due to the storm, according to the Saline County Arkansas Sheriff's Office.
And in Louisiana, two storm-related deaths were reported, bringing the storm's death toll to 5.
The incident remains under investigation. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Frisco police at 972-292-6010. Tips can be submitted anonymously.
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Stay with FOX Weather for 24/7 coverage and get live updates on the storm as it blasts the nation with crippling ice and dangerous snow across a 2,300-mile path.