A tragic accident on Louisiana Highway 190 has claimed the life of 19-year-old Courtney Hodge, a freshman at LSU from Red Oak, Texas. Hodge was driving home for the summer when her vehicle rear-ended a commercial truck on Friday afternoon, resulting in her immediate death at the scene.
The incident occurred shortly after 3 p.m. near Jennings Road, prompting an investigation by Louisiana State Police Troop I. As they look into the circumstances surrounding the crash, authorities have noted that Hodge was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the collision.
Hodge, a 2025 graduate of Red Oak High School, was pursuing a degree in Political Science at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. Her family shared their heartache over the loss, highlighting her promising future and the impact her absence will have on their lives.
Preliminary findings indicate that a 2005 Kenworth commercial vehicle was traveling westbound on LA-190 and had begun to slow down as it approached a crossover. Hodge’s 2025 Kia K4, also heading west, failed to decelerate in time and collided with the truck. The exact reasons for her inability to stop remain unclear, and state police are actively investigating the matter.
Red Oak, located in Ellis County south of Dallas, is mourning the loss of one of its young residents as friends and family remember Hodge’s vibrant spirit and bright future.
The investigation into the causes of the crash is ongoing, as authorities seek to understand the factors that led to this tragic event.
