Salem police are piecing together the details of a Sunday afternoon crash that has closed a portion of Main Street.

Sgt. J.C. Blomberg said a 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche was traveling west in the 300 block of West Main Street about 4:50 p.m. when it ran off the right side of the road and struck a utility pole.

The pole was seriously damaged, and the driver fled the scene, Blomberg said.

"Our electric department came and secured the pole, and they'll come back in the morning [today] and put in a new pole," he said.

In the meantime, West Main Street is closed between Chestnut and Shanks streets, but Blomberg said he did not know when repairs would be complete or when the street would be reopened.

He declined to release the name of the owner of the Avalanche, which was not reported stolen. The vehicle was a total loss, he said.

"We've spoken to the owner of the vehicle, and we're still determining who was driving," Blomberg said.

-- Neil Harvey