State Police Lt. Was Ill at Time of Crash, Officials Say

A state police commander, whom officials said has a stellar service record, was ill at the time his , officials said.

"He lost control of his car and crashed," state police spokesman Lt. Paul Vance said Thursday, calling the incident an accident. "There was no underlying cause whatsoever."

Michael Hofbauer, 46, of Lakeside Road, Southbury, who according to a state police press release, was promoted to lieutenant in November, was driving his state police-issued unmarked Crown Victoria south on Toddy Hill Road at about 5:20 p.m., Aug. 31 when for some reason the vehicle crossed all travel lanes and crashed into a utility pole on the other side of street, Newtown police said in a news release.

The impact of the crash was enough to crack and tilt the utility pole.

No reason was given for the crash and Hofbauer was issued a verbal warning for failure to drive in a proper lane, Newtown police said in the news release. The Crown Victoria had to be towed from the scene and Connecticut Light & Power workers called to replace the pole and wire damage.

Hofbauer was ill at the time he was driving, had vomited earlier and "probably shouldn't have gone to work," Vance said.

"There was nothing inappropriate in this crash at all," Vance said. "This is a trooper who has a stellar record."

Hofbauer graduated from the state police academy in June 1990 and has served in various troops in Southbury, Bridgeport and Westbrook, according to the November press release announcing his promotion.

He also has served with the governor's security unit, the Western District Major Crime Squad and various other positions, including as the executive officer of Troop A in Southbury and at the state forensic laboratory in Meriden, according to the press release.

Residents in that section of Toddy Hill Road had recently regained power after losing electrical service following Tropical Storm Irene on Sunday. CL&P crews who were dispatched to the scene Wednesday eventually were able to make repairs to the utility damage.