Miss Teen Rodeo Kansas Emma Brungardt, 19, dies in tragic car crash that left 5 teammates injured

TOPEKA, KANSAS: The 2024 Miss Teen Rodeo Kansas, Emma Brungardt, tragically died in a car crash in rural Kansas on Friday, October 4 night, while five of her college equestrian teammates were also injured in the incident.

Brungardt, 19, a sophomore at Colby Community College and an equine management and production major, was pronounced dead at the scene, authorities said, per the New York Post.

Emma Brungardt dies in car crash

The CC College Rodeo Team remembered Emma Brungardt and wrote on Facebook, "This is Emma Brungardt. She is from Blue Rapids Kansas and is majoring in equine management and production. Emma competes in goat tying, breakaway and team roping. Last night her along with 4 other team members and our work study were involved in a car accident."

The post further read, "Unfortunately Emma did not walk away from this. We are praying for all families involved. Emma was a sweet soul who picked up other people and always had a positive attitude. Her light will live on in and around the rodeo arena. "Always pray, never lose hope" Luke 18:1."

Brungardt was traveling with her teammates in a pickup truck, which was driven by an unidentified 18-year-old. The driver was going south and cut "between the Y striking a tree row" that led the truck to flip, a Kansas Highway Patrol trooper wrote in a crash report.

The driver and the four surviving passengers were taken to Citizens Medical Center in Colby, Kansas for minor injuries whereas Brungardt could not survive the crash.

Emma Brungardt's life and career

Emma Brungardt was not just a rodeo queen but also competed in goat tying, breakaway, and team roping for the Colby Community College team. She was there on a scholarship, according to Rodeo On Si.

Brungardt started her western lifestyle by joining the FFA in high school and then participating in the Kansas Wild Horse Youth Challenge. She was the grand champion of the event in 2019 and 2021, per her profile on the Miss Rodeo Kansas page. She also competed in the Kansas High School Rodeo for two years, per the outlet.

Kinsley Mortuary posted an obituary for Brungardt on their website. They wrote, "Emma Catherine Brungardt, 19, Blue Rapids, KS, died unexpectedly October 4, 2024, near Colby, KS, as a result of an automobile accident. Visitation will be 4-8 p.m., Friday, October 11, at Kinsley Mortuary in Marysville. The family will receive friends from 4-6 p.m."

They added, "A funeral service will be held at 11.00 am, Saturday, October 12 at the Blue Rapids school gymnasium at 509 Chestnut Street. Burial will follow in Prospect Hill Cemetery."

The obituary further read, "In lieu of flowers a fund has been established to help Emma's family with expenses. A crowd funding option is available below her obituary at www.kinsleymortuary.com or contributions may be sent to: Michael and/or Holly Brungardt, C/O Kinsley Mortuary, P.O. Box 147, Marysville, KS 66508. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Emma Catherine Brungardt, please visit our flower store."

Internet pays tribute to rodeo queen Emma Brungardt after untimely death

Many people on the internet paid tribute to Emma Brungardt after she tragically died in a car crash in rural Kansas on October 4, thus marking the end of a short but exceptional career.

A user wrote on X, "Thoughts going out to Emma Brungardt and her family. Emma was a rodeo queen that was at many events. We did not directly work with her but she was at many of the events we were at. She will be missed."

Another added, "So incredibly sad. I grew up next to her mom. Emma was big in the rodeo circuit and did so much good."

One user said, "What a sweet young lady gone too soon. She has been on the rodeo team with Clarysa at Colby the last year and a half. Couldn’t have asked for a nicer cowgirl to pal around with."

Another said, "Heaven gained one heck of a cowgirl! You had the ability to touch everyone’s life. Your actions were intentional and your words were ever so encouraging."

A user also wrote, "Thoughts and prayers to family , friends and rodeo family, so sorry for your loss!!!"

One commented, "Fly High And Spread Your Wings Cowgirl In That Big Rodeo Arena In The Sky!! My Condolences And Prayers Go Out To The Family And The Colby Community College Rodeo Team."

An account named Miss Rodeo Kansas Pageant posted, "The Miss Rodeo Kansas Pageant would like to express our deepest condolences to the family of Emma Brungardt, our beautiful Miss Teen Rodeo Kansas 2024."

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.