Texas Student-Athlete Dies After Rodeo Accident
Alejandra Franco, a member of the Tarleton State University Rodeo Team, suffered fatal injuries during a competition.
A Texas university student-athlete died Thursday night after an incident involving a horse during a rodeo event. Alejandra “Ale” Franco, a member of the Tarleton State University Rodeo Team, sustained fatal injuries while competing at the S.A.L.E. Arena in Alpine, Texas.
The Tarleton State Rodeo Team announced Franco’s death on Instagram Friday, stating, “Alejandra tragically lost her life yesterday, leaving behind a lasting impact on everyone who had the privilege of knowing her.”
Franco, 20, was participating in the Sul Ross State University NIRA College Rodeo when the accident occurred. According to her team’s head coach, Mark Eakin, she was in the roping box with her horse at the time. Additional details regarding the incident have not been released.
Franco was also known on the Tarleton State campus in Stephenville as a Tarleton Transition Mentor, assisting new students. Tarleton State President Dr. James Hurley described Franco as a “true Texan, a cherished member of our TTM and representing Tarleton State on the rodeo stage.” He added, “Her presence will be deeply missed, but the impact she made on her Texan family will never be forgotten.”
Her father, Alejandro Franco, shared a heartfelt tribute on Facebook, calling his daughter his “light.” He wrote, “The whole world loved you, my darling, and rightly so. Because you were special... I want you to know that I’m proud to be your dad... That you were the best thing that ever happened to me.”
Franco was also part of the Escaramuza Charra El Gran Chaparral, an equestrian team based in Mexico. The team expressed condolences to Franco's family, stating, “May she rest in peace.”
Friends and teammates have paid tribute to Franco using the hashtag “LiveLikeAle.” The SRSU Rodeo team announced plans to distribute purple ribbons, the color of Tarleton State, at its Friday night show and encouraged attendees to wear the color in her memory.
“Tonight a rodeo family is carrying a heavy heart,” an announcer at the show stated. “If one of us hurts, we all hurt.”