If you follow the Drummond family, you know they aren’t strangers to the kind of "rough and tumble" lifestyle that comes with owning a massive Oklahoma ranch. But when rumors of a Todd Drummond accident started swirling, fans of The Pioneer Woman understandably panicked. People often mix up the kids, the cousins, and the husband, Ladd.
Honestly, it’s easy to get confused because the Drummonds have had a string of scary moments over the last few years.
But here’s the thing: Todd, the youngest son and former star quarterback, is actually doing fine today. Most of the frantic "accident" searches you see online are actually a mix-up between a childhood injury Todd had years ago and a much more severe, life-threatening crash involving his father, Ladd, and his cousin, Caleb.
The "Burn" Incident: Todd’s Actual Childhood Accident
Let’s clear the air on what actually happened to Todd specifically. If you dig back into Ree Drummond’s archives, there is a story she calls "The Dreaded Call." It happened years ago when Todd was just a little guy.
He was out on the ranch with Ladd (whom Ree calls "Marlboro Man") and ended up burning his hand quite badly. It wasn’t a car crash or a football collision. It was a classic "kid on a ranch" mishap. Ree describes a frantic 45-minute drive to the hospital while Todd was screaming in the backseat.
It was scary. It was heart-wrenching for a mom. But in the grand scheme of things? It was a localized injury that healed up with some medicated cream and time.
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The reason this keeps popping up in searches is that Ree writes so vividly about her life that these old stories stay indexed forever. People see "Todd Drummond accident" and assume it happened yesterday.
Why people are actually searching for this now
Most of the current "accident" buzz is actually about two other things:
- The 2021 Fire Truck Collision: This is the big one. It involved Todd’s dad and cousin, but because "Drummond" is the keyword, Todd’s name often gets dragged into the headline.
- Football Injuries: Todd is a serious athlete. He played at Pawhuska High School and moved on to college ball at Emporia State. In the world of high-stakes football, "accident" is often code for "is he starting this Saturday or is he on the injury report?"
The 2021 Crash: The Event Everyone Remembers
If you’re looking for the "major" accident that rocked the Drummond family, we have to talk about March 2021. This wasn’t Todd, but it affected him deeply because it involved his father, Ladd, and his cousin, Caleb.
They were fighting a massive wildfire on the family ranch. It was a chaotic scene—high winds, heavy smoke, and thick dust on a narrow gravel road. Ladd and Caleb were driving separate fire rigs. Because of the zero-visibility conditions, they hit each other head-on.
The details are pretty grim:
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- Caleb was ejected from his truck, flying about 70 feet. He was taken to the hospital in critical condition.
- Ladd, being a "stubborn cowboy" as Ree puts it, initially refused medical treatment at the scene so the paramedics could focus on Caleb.
- It turned out Ladd had broken his neck in two places.
Ladd actually drove himself to the hospital later. Think about that for a second. The man had a broken neck—one fracture was "dangerously close" to being catastrophic—and he just drove himself in. Todd was a senior in high school at the time, and seeing his dad in a neck brace for months, especially during his sister Alex’s wedding, was a huge moment for the family.
Todd’s Move to Emporia State and the "Injury" Rumors
Fast forward to 2024 and 2025. Todd is now a college quarterback. When you're a 6'4" QB at the college level, people are constantly checking your status.
There hasn’t been a "Todd Drummond accident" in the sense of a car wreck or a tragedy recently. However, his brother Bryce actually had a back injury that required surgery around 2024, which led to even more confusion among fans.
Todd has mostly stayed healthy, focused on his redshirt freshman and sophomore seasons at Emporia State. He’s been a standout player, following the legacy of his older brothers. If you see a headline today about an "accident," check the date. Nine times out of ten, it’s an outlet recycling the 2021 story or a minor sports tweak being blown out of proportion for clicks.
How the Drummonds Handle Ranch Life Risks
Living on a ranch means accepting a certain level of danger. Ree has been very open about the fact that her kids grew up around heavy machinery, unpredictable cattle, and the constant threat of wildfires.
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Basically, they’re tough.
When Todd isn't on the field, he's often back at the ranch helping out. The "Pioneer Woman" brand is built on this authenticity, which includes the scary parts. Whether it’s an ATV mishap or a football sting, the family tends to circle the wagons, post an update on the blog to calm the fans, and keep moving.
What you should actually know:
- Todd is safe: He is currently pursuing his college career and is not involved in any recent tragic accidents.
- The 2021 crash was the peak: That was the most "famous" accident in the family's history, involving Ladd and Caleb.
- Beware of Clickbait: Many sites use "Todd Drummond Accident" as a headline to talk about his father's old injury or a minor football update.
If you’re worried about Todd, your best bet is to check Ree’s official Instagram or her "Confessions" blog. She’s usually the first to let people know if something real has happened. For now, Todd is just another college student-athlete working hard and staying out of the "accident" headlines for all the right reasons.
Actionable Insights for Fans
To stay accurately informed without falling for "news" traps, keep these things in mind:
- Verify the Name: If a headline says "Drummond Son Accident," check if it’s Todd, Bryce, or their foster brother Jamar (who also had a serious ATV accident years ago that Ree wrote about).
- Look for the Date: Many "Breaking News" stories about the Drummonds are actually 3 to 5 years old.
- Check Sports Rosters: If you’re worried about a football injury, check the Emporia State University athletics page for the most recent depth charts and injury reports rather than celebrity gossip sites.