A Texas family is mourning the loss of their oldest daughter, Courtney Hodge, who had just finished her freshman year at Louisiana State University. As she drove back home to Texas by herself, she got into an accident with a commercial truck. The crash is still being investigated, but after an initial search, it seems that choices she made while driving may have contributed to her death. Still, her family is speaking about Hodge, sharing that she was beloved by all who knew her and that she shared a special bond with her younger sister. Many people have been paying tribute on social media to the former cheerleader and athlete.
Currently, not a lot is known about what caused the crash.
The crash happened shortly after 3 p.m. on May 22, 2026, according to a report from the Louisiana State Police. Police say the crash took place on Louisiana Highway 190. Police identified 19-year-old Hodge as the person who died.
A preliminary investigation showed that a 2005 Kenworth commercial motor vehicle was traveling west at the same time as a 2025 Kia K4 was traveling behind it. The semi truck slowed down, but for “unknown reasons,” the Kia did not. Hodge rear-ended the truck.
She was not wearing a seat belt and received fatal injuries in the crash, police shared in the report. She died at the scene.
A toxicology sample was taken from Hodge and will be analyzed. Currently, the crash is still under investigation. The state police warned that people should stay alert while driving and should also make sure they are properly restrained.
“While not all crashes are survivable, proper use of seat belts can greatly decrease the chances of serious injury or death,” the report warned.
The family of Courtney Hodge is speaking about her death publicly.
“She’s just a great sister, a great daughter, a great granddaughter, a great friend,” Hodge’s mother, Sherqueena Jackson told WFAA.
Jackson told the outlet that her oldest daughter was studying at LSU, where she was a political science major. She had graduated in the top 10% of her high school class in 2025.
Jackson said she had texted her daughter shortly before leaving work on the day of the crash. “Before I left work, I had texted her, ‘Refresh your Life360,’” she said. “She didn’t respond to that.”
Instead of hearing from her daughter, Jackson got a call from a number she didn’t recognize.
After receiving the call about her daughter, Jackson and her husband didn’t waste any time getting to their daughter, WFAA reported.
“My husband drove us down to Louisiana so we could see her and let her know that I was here and that she didn’t have to be by herself and be afraid,” Jackson shared.
The teen is being remembered by those who knew her as someone they’ll never forget.
“The thing I’m most proud of with Courtney is the person that she was. Courtney had a really big heart, and she was the kind of person that was a friend to all,” her stepfather, Bryan Jackson, told CBS News Texas.
One of the people who will miss her most is her 7-year-old sister, Carter.
“She was the best thing that I could ever have. She was my best friend. I’ll would always hang out with her, I’ll always be with her,” the girl said.
Tributes to the teen poured in on Facebook as well. Former high school classmate Ryan Smith shared a tribute, writing, “Although no words can truly ease the pain of such a heartbreaking loss, we hope the family finds comfort in the love, memories, and support surrounding them. Courtney’s memory will forever remain a part of the Class of 2025.”
Former cheer teams, coaches, and family friends also shared photos and memories.
