What happened to Ponyboy's parents?

Ponyboy’s parents died in a car accident before the events of The Outsiders begin. Because of their deaths, Ponyboy and his brothers are left on their own, and Darry becomes Ponyboy’s guardian and takes on adult responsibilities. Darry even gives up a college scholarship to work and support the family, which creates tension since Ponyboy often mistakes Darry’s strictness for a lack of love.

This loss shapes Ponyboy’s life in major ways. It forces the Curtis brothers to stick together as a family, but it also leaves Ponyboy without parental guidance and contributes to the conflict between him and Darry. The absence of their parents is one reason Darry is so protective and demanding, while Ponyboy struggles to understand him. Their parents’ death is part of a larger pattern in the novel, where young people are pushed into adult roles too early, especially in difficult environments.