A Texas Mom Waited for Her Daughter to Come Home From College. She Got a Phone Call Instead
She had just finished her freshman year of college. She was heading home for the summer. That drive never ended.
On May 22, 2026, Courtney Hodge, a 19-year-old Political Science major at LSU, was killed in a two-vehicle crash on Louisiana Highway 190 in Opelousas. She had a mother waiting for her at home in Red Oak, Texas.
One detail from the official report stands out more than anything else. She was not wearing a seat belt.
She Was a Red Oak Kid Who Made It to LSU
Courtney graduated from Red Oak High School in 2025 and went on to LSU in Baton Rouge, majoring in Political Science.
She was also a cheerleader at Red Oak. The Red Oak Cheer Booster Club called her a “Red Oak Cheer Alumna” in a statement shared through the school district.
Her mother, Sherqueena Myles Jackson, spoke to local media directly. She wanted people to know who her daughter was, not just what happened to her car.
What Happened on Louisiana Highway 190
Just after 3 p.m. on May 22, Louisiana State Police Troop I responded to a fatal two-vehicle crash near Jennings Road in St. Landry Parish.
A 2005 Kenworth commercial truck was traveling west and began slowing near a crossover. Courtney was driving a 2025 Kia K4 behind it. For reasons still unknown, her car did not slow down. It rear-ended the truck.
She was not properly restrained. She was pronounced dead at the scene. A toxicology sample was collected and the investigation remains ongoing.
A Community That Knew Her Is Still Processing This
This story spread fast across DFW media within hours. It happened because people in Red Oak knew Courtney, and they shared the news.
What makes it hit harder is the wider pattern around it. Crashes on open roads give almost no warning. The case of a vehicle that crashed into a Mississippi home while the driver fled the scene shows how fast these situations unfold.
If you follow stories like this, there is a WhatsApp channel that tracks road safety and community incidents as they break. Worth having on hand.
Why This Matters
This is not a freak accident. It is part of a pattern in federal data that shows up every single year.
According to NHTSA’s Traffic Safety data, among young adults aged 18 to 34 killed in passenger vehicle crashes in 2024, 59% were completely unrestrained. That is the highest rate of any age group. Seat belts reduce the risk of death by 45% for front-seat passengers.
The roads stay unpredictable regardless of who is driving. A drunk driver crashed into a Wisconsin home at 11 p.m. while the family slept, and a police recruit crashed a squad car into a North Chicago home avoiding an SUV that ran a stop sign. The one thing any driver can always control is whether they buckle up.
Courtney was 19. She was exactly inside the demographic federal data flags year after year as the least likely to be restrained. That is not a character judgment. It is a pattern. And it keeps costing people their lives.
Key Takeaways
- Courtney Hodge, 19, was killed on May 22, 2026, on Louisiana Highway 190 near Opelousas
- She had just finished her freshman year at LSU, majoring in Political Science
- She graduated from Red Oak High School in 2025 and was a former cheerleader
- Her Kia K4 rear-ended a commercial truck that was slowing for a crossover
- Louisiana State Police confirmed she was not properly restrained at the time of the crash
- The investigation is ongoing; a toxicology sample was submitted
- Among 18 to 34-year-olds killed in 2024 crashes, 59% were unrestrained (NHTSA)
What do you think it will actually take to change seat belt habits among young drivers? Is this a law enforcement issue, a cultural one, or something else entirely? Drop your take in the comments.
Wrapping Up
Courtney made it through an entire year of college away from home. She was heading back to her mom in Red Oak, Texas. That is the part that stays with you.
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Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. All details are based on publicly available reports at the time of publication. The investigation remains ongoing.
