SUV hits pole, driver flees

A crash shut down a major road artery in northwest Atlanta on Thursday moing.

West Marietta Street was closed between Joseph E. Lowery Boulevard and Marietta Boulevard around 3:30 a.m. Georgia Newsday was at the scene as Atlanta police officers tued away passing cars.

Police said an SUV hit a pole on the street, leaving phone and cable lines dangling. Georgia Power crews fixed one line that came down. An AT&T crew was also dispatched to make repairs, but officers are unsure how long it will take.

Police said the driver and a passenger abandoned the SUV and left the scene after both airbags deployed. There were no signs of injuries.

The closure could cause big backups if repairs are still being made during the moing commute because the street is a major thoroughfare into the city, and it is also used on MARTA routes. 

One eastbound lane of the West Marietta Street was reopened shortly before 8 a.m.