West Innes Street will be closed until early afternoon due to an early morning wreck, Police spokeswoman Shelia Lingle said.

 

At 1:43 a.m. police say that a car traveling north on West Innes Street crashed into a utility pole at the corner of West Innes and Institute Street. The passenger of the vehicle was unharmed and reported that the driver, an African-American male, got out of the car and ran away.

 

The car, a 1999 Mercedes, was traveling at an estimated 55 miles per hour when it hit the pole, Lingle said.

 

The right lane West Innes Street heading towards downtown is closed while Duke Power makes repairs on the pole and restores power to the area. A detour has been provided.