Dad of 3 Dies in ‘Tragic’ Accident While Sledding with Friends and Family in S.C.: ‘One in a Million’

A 36-year-old father of three died in a sledding accident in Abbeville County, South Carolina, after an outing with friends and family during a winter storm.

Christopher O’Quinn was sledding on private property on Saturday, Jan. 31, when the incident occurred, according to reporting from 7NEWS and Fox Carolina. The Abbeville County Coroner later identified the death as accidental.

In a statement, Abbeville County Coroner Brad Evans said, “The death of Christopher O’Quinn on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, while sledding behind a UTV was a tragic accident.”

Evans said the investigation has been completed and the manner of death has been ruled an accident. He also offered condolences to the family.

According to 7NEWS, O’Quinn’s sled was being pulled by a utility terrain vehicle (UTV) at the time. Evans told the outlet that O’Quinn’s wife, Jordan O’Quinn, was also sledding when the accident happened.

“His sled impacted another UTV,” Evans said.

Evans said O’Quinn died from “blunt force trauma” to the head and was pronounced dead at the scene, according to Fox Carolina.

Another adult who was also on the sled with O’Quinn was taken to the hospital, Evans told 7NEWS. The person’s condition has not been made public.

In an interview with 7NEWS, Jordan O’Quinn said she met Christopher when she was 16 and described him as devoted to his family.

“He loved me with every part of his soul,” she said.

“He was an intentional father,” she added. “He took each of my children by the face every night and told them how much he loved them and how much he was proud of them.”

Jordan also said O’Quinn “loved big” and “hard,” adding that those around him felt how deeply he cared.

“He was one in a million, one in a million,” she said.

She said she has leaned on her faith while grieving.

“There is just a peace that passes all understanding,” she said. “I know that he’s just praising the Father. That he is just at the feet of the Lord. That longing to be there with him, I think, that’s what’s going to keep us going.”