HOUMA — An off-duty Terrebonne narcotics agent hit and killed a pedestrian early this morning near Southland Mall, State Police said.
Jacob Bollingham, 20, of Slidell, was clad in dark clothes and walking across the east lane of Bayou Gardens Boulevard at about 3:30 a.m. when he was hit by a 2003 Cadillac Escalade driven by Derrick Collins, 42, of Gray, said Master Trooper Bryan Zeringue.
Collins tried to avoid the collision but was unsuccessful, authorities said. Bollingham was taken by ambulance to Terrebonne General Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
Bollingham appeared bound for the mall, where he worked, Zeringue said. Collins was headed toward Coteau Road, said Terrebonne Sheriff Vernon Bourgeois.
State Police were unable to provide specifics about Bollingham’s job or how long he had been in Houma.
Southland Mall personnel, contacted this morning, said Bollingham was not employed by Southland Mall but may have worked in a store there.
Alcohol and drug tests, required by state law in all fatal wrecks, are pending.
Collins was wearing a seat belt and was not injured, Zeringue said. He passed an alcohol-breath test administered immediately after the crash, he said.
Bourgeois said Collins’ SUV sustained minor damage, and the officer was shaken by the incident.
No charges have been filed, and the crash remains under investigation.
