Duty Death: Austin Bush - [Houma]
End of Service: 16/09/2021
By Dan Copp
The Houma Courier, La.
HOUMA, La. — A Houma Police officer was killed in a single-vehicle crash Thursday morning near Thibodaux, authorities said.
The crash killed 21-year-old Austin Bush of Houma, State Police said.
Authorities said the crash occurred shortly before 6 a.m. on Percy Brown Road in Schriever, just east of the intersection with Audubon Avenue in Terrebonne Parish.
Bush was traveling west in a fully marked police 2010 Ford Crown Victoria when he struck a log near the westbound fog line and veered across the eastbound lane and into a drainage basin, State Police Troop C said in a news release. He then became submerged in water.
Though Bush was wearing a seat belt, he was pulled from the submerged patrol unit and transported to Thibodaux Regional Medical Center, where he died shortly thereafter, authorities said.
A toxicology sample, legally required in all fatal crashes, will be collected and sent to a lab for analysis, State Police said.
Houma Police Chief Dana Coleman described Bush as a promising young officer who had a passion for the community.
“Our hearts are deeply saddened with the loss of our brother, Officer Austin Bush,” Coleman said Thursday. “Officer Austin Bush had a bright future with our agency, where he was committed to the oath of protecting and serving our community. Our agency is grieving with his family as this process unfolds and ask that you give them some privacy to digest this tremendous loss. Our prayers and condolences are with his family.”
Terrebonne Parish Sheriff Tim Soignet said Houma lost a dedicated public servant.
“I wish we could redo this day,” the sheriff said Thursday. “That young man was very new to law enforcement, but he was dedicated. He showed up to work every day to do what he had to do, and that’s commendable and it’s honorable. He realized this was his calling. My heart goes out to his family.”
The crash remains under investigation.
(c)2021 The Houma Courier, La.