A devastating single-vehicle car accident in rural Kansas has left the community mourning the loss of a talented young rodeo star. Emma Brungardt, a 19-year-old rodeo champion and Miss Teen Rodeo Kansas 2024, tragically lost her life in the accident that occurred on Friday night in Thomas County.
The accident involved a 2007 Ford F250 pickup truck traveling southbound on County Road 21 when it veered off the road at a Y intersection and collided with a tree row. Despite wearing her seatbelt, Brungardt succumbed to her injuries at the scene. The driver and four other passengers, including fellow rodeo team members and a work study, survived the crash with possible injuries.
