A Texas family is grieving the loss of their 19-year-old daughter, who died in a two-vehicle crash on a Louisiana highway while traveling home from college last week.
Courtney Hodge’s relatives described her as someone with “a huge heart” who was friendly to everyone, according to ABC affiliate WFAA.
The crash happened Friday afternoon, May 22, on Louisiana Highway 190 near Jennings Road, Louisiana State Police said. Investigators reported that a 2005 Kenworth commercial truck was slowing near a crossover when a 2025 Kia K4 traveling behind it failed to reduce speed and collided with the rear of the truck for reasons still unknown.
Police said Hodge was not wearing a seat belt and suffered fatal injuries at the scene. Authorities are continuing to investigate and have submitted a toxicology sample for analysis.
Hodge, from Red Oak, Texas, had recently completed her freshman year studying political science at Louisiana State University and was driving home when the accident occurred.
Her mother, Sherqueena Jackson, told WFAA that shortly before the crash she texted her daughter reminding her to refresh her Life360 app, but never received a reply.
After learning about the tragedy, Jackson and her husband traveled to Louisiana to be with their daughter one last time.
Hodge was a 2025 graduate of Red Oak High School, where she participated in cheerleading and soccer. She is survived by her parents and her 7-year-old sister, Carter, who called her “my best friend.”
Louisiana State Police used the incident to remind drivers that distracted driving remains a major cause of crashes and emphasized the importance of wearing seat belts on every trip.
