According to West Hartford Police, a man who was distracted while lighting a cigarette hit a telephone pole on South Main Street in West Hartford on Monday.

Scene of a rollover crash on South Main Street in West Hartford. Photo courtesy of West Hartford Police

By Ronni Newton

A West Hartford man who told police he was distracted while lighting a cigarette lost control of his vehicle and crashed into a utility pole near Rockledge Golf Course on South Main Street late Monday morning.

According to police, David Dehaas, 24, of 4 Henley Way, West Hartford, was the driver and sole occupant of a 2005 Toyota Camry. He was headed south on South Main Street at approximately 11:37 a.m. Monday, police said, when the vehicle was driven off the road and crashed into a utility pole about 100 meters south of Rockledge Golf Course.

Police said that the car “flipped over and landed in its roof.” Dehaas, according to police, was wearing his seatbelt. He was able to crawl out of the car, police said, and was transported to St. Francis Hospital with minor injuries.

The car sustained heavy damage, police said, and the telephone pole, which is owned by Eversource, was snapped about 5 feet from its base and needs to be replaced.

The accident is still under investigation, police said.