Crash with police car leaves one dead

A car crash left a Houma police officer injured and a Theriot man dead last Wednesday afternoon.

Officer Michael Toups, 25, of Gray, was heading eastbound on Roussell Street in the right lane in his 2003 Ford Crown Victoria patrol car, while Oledia Dehart, 39, of Theriot was traveling northbound on Bond Street in the left lane in a 1993 Dodge Dakota.

The vehicles crashed in the intersection. The front of the police vehicle struck the driver’s side of the truck.

The collision sent the truck into a utility pole at the northeast corner of the intersection.

The police vehicle was totaled.

Oledia Dehart’s passenger, Desire Dehart, 78, of Theriot, was not wearing his seatbelt and was ejected through the windshield.

He sustained critical injuries and later died at the Terrebonne General Medical Center.

Officer Toups sustained a sprained wrist and a concussion.

Houma Police Department Lt. Todd Duplantis said Toups is doing well, but is unsure how long he will be out.

“Physically, Mike is doing OK right now. But mentally, he’s hurt because of the life that was lost,” said Duplantis. “He is pretty upset about that.”

Toups was hired in 2004 and was nominated by the Fraternal Order of Police at the Houma Police Department for Police Rookie of the Year in 2006.

Oledia Dehart sustained minor injuries and was also taken to Terrebonne General by Acadian Ambulance.

Alcohol is not suspected in the crash, but blood was drawn from both drivers for testing.

No charges have been filed, pending the blood analysis.

There is a traffic signal at the intersection and the accident is still currently under investigation by the Louisiana State Troopers.