Courtney Hodge, a 19-year-old student from Red Oak, tragically lost her life Friday afternoon in a crash while returning home after completing her freshman year at Louisiana State University. The heartbreaking loss has left her family, friends, classmates, and school communities mourning a young life filled with promise and potential.
According to Louisiana State Police, the crash occurred shortly after 3 p.m. on Louisiana Highway 190 in Opelousas. Investigators said Courtney was driving a 2025 Kia K4 westbound behind a semi-truck when the truck slowed near a crossover. Authorities said her vehicle collided with the rear of the truck, resulting in devastating injuries.
Courtney was pronounced dead at the scene. Officials also stated that she was not properly restrained at the time of the crash. The investigation into the accident remains ongoing.
The tragedy has deeply impacted those who knew and loved Courtney. Having recently graduated from Red Oak High School in 2025, she had just completed her first year of college and was looking ahead to a bright future. Loved ones remembered her as a caring, intelligent, and ambitious young woman whose smile and spirit touched many people around her.
Her mother, Sherqueena Myles Jackson, shared the devastating news as family members and community supporters gathered around them in grief and prayer. The loss feels especially painful as the family had been celebrating Courtney’s accomplishments and the completion of an important milestone in her education journey.
Red Oak ISD also released a statement expressing condolences to the family. District leaders noted that Courtney’s mother is set to become the incoming principal of Schupmann Elementary School, making the tragedy even more personal for the school community.
As tributes continue pouring in across social media, many are choosing to remember Courtney Hodge for the joy she brought into people’s lives, the dreams she carried, and the future she was working so hard to build. Her memory will continue to live on in the hearts of those who knew and loved her.
