What leads to the death of Ponyboy's parents?

In The Outsiders, by S.E. Hinton, the reader learns early in the book that Ponyboy and his older brother Sodapop live with, and are taken care of by, their oldest brother Darry. This is because the boys’ parents were killed prior to the start of the novel. In chapter 1, the reader is informed that Ponyboy’s parents were killed in an auto wreck. This comes to light when Ponyboy talks about how he and his brother Sodapop must stay out of trouble so they can continue to live with Darry. He goes on to say, “Since Mom and Dad were killed in an auto wreck, the three of us get to stay together only as long as we behave” (Hinton 3). Later, in chapter 3, the reader learns that Ponyboy’s parents were killed “eight months ago” (Hinton 48), during a dream in which Ponyboy brings his parents back to life to live happily with himself and his brothers in the country.

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