A pedestrian was struck and killed by a vehicle while walking along the southbound lane of Interstate 59 early Thursday morning.

Picayune Police Assistant Chief Jeremy Magri said the collision was reported to officers that morning just after 3:30, after the driver of a 2013 Dodge Journey reported striking something in the roadway that caused severe damage to his vehicle near exit one of the interstate.

Officers arrived and conduced an investigation, determining that a man was struck by the vehicle, and later determined to have died at the scene.

The investigation showed that the man, was apparently walking on the southbound side of the road, but just slightly within the path of traffic when he was struck, Magri said.

Pearl River County Coroner Derek Turnage identified the deceased as Douglas Keene, 35, of Picayune. Turange said Keene’s cause of death was due to blunt force trauma suffered during the collision.

Even though impairment was not suspected, the driver was asked to submit a blood sample for testing, which is protocol for any collision that results in death, Magri said.

The driver voluntarily submitted the blood sample at Highland Community Hospital, Magri said.