A veteran Connecticut State Police sergeant died in the hospital Thursday after being pulled from the Pomperaug River in Woodbury.

The sergeant and his vehicle were swept into the river off of a bridge early Thursday morning by flood waters from Hurricane Ida.

State police found the sergeant’s car then had to search another few hours before finding the trooper, who had been swept away by flood waters. He was taken by Life Star helicopter to the hospital, CT Mirror reports.

The sergeant, who was assigned to Troop L in Litchfield, was working the overnight shift, according to sources, when he called for help shortly before 4 a.m. Troopers from that barracks rushed to the area to search for him. 

The call set off a massive search that included nine fire departments, three airplanes, including a Coast Guard plane equipped to pull someone out of the water, the state police dive team, and troopers from all over the state who searched the river banks.

The sergeant was a 27-year-veteran of the department.

Police have not released his name.