A 19-year-old Louisiana State University freshman from Red Oak, Texas, died on Friday afternoon, May 22, 2026, following a crash on Louisiana Highway 190 near Jennings Road in Opelousas.
Courtney Hodge was driving a 2025 Kia K4 westbound behind a 2005 Kenworth semi-truck. As the truck slowed while approaching a crossover, her vehicle collided with the rear of the commercial vehicle. She sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Louisiana State Police investigators determined that Hodge was not properly restrained with a seatbelt at the time of the collision. The driver of the semi-truck was not injured. The crash occurred shortly after 3:00 p.m. in St. Landry Parish. Hodge had just completed her first year at LSU and was returning home to Red Oak. She was excited to begin her summer break.
Preliminary findings suggest Hodge may not have slowed in time as the truck decelerated. Louisiana State Police Troop I continues to investigate the circumstances of the two-vehicle crash. The full cause remains under review. No other contributing factors have been publicly detailed. No charges have been filed. The truck driver has not been identified.
Hodge was described by loved ones as a vibrant young woman full of potential. Her death has prompted an outpouring of condolences from the LSU community and her former high school peers, who remembered her as a bright student with a promising future. She was a resident of Red Oak, Texas, and had strong ties to the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
No information about Hodge’s parents, siblings, or specific high school has been publicly released. The family has requested privacy as they mourn. No funeral arrangements have been announced. Her death has left family, friends, classmates, and both her high school and university communities in deep grief.
Hodge was 19 years old. She was an LSU freshman, a Red Oak resident, and a young woman who had just finished her first year of college. Those are the details her loved ones are sharing as they mourn. The investigation into the crash remains active. No further details have been released. Anyone wishing to honor her memory may reach out to the LSU community for information on memorial contributions.
