A motorist whose white Toyota Camry burst into flames after striking a utility pole on Lafayette Street early this morning allegedly fled the scene of the accident and has not been located, according to police. 

At 3:29 a.m., police and fire units responded to the area of 136 Lafayette St. after it was reported that a car had struck a pole "at a high rate of speed."

When local officers arrived they reported that the "front of the car (was) almost fully engulfed" and had caught a nearby fence on fire. The accident reportedly knocked out power to many of the homes along the roadway.

The driver, however, was not inside the vehicle when they arrived, according to police.

Officers reportedly went to the address listed on the vehicle's registration to see if they could find the owner and called several area hospitals to see if anyone had checked in with injuries consistent with a car crash.

Police Chief Robert Picariello said the driver had not been located as of 10:30 a.m.

Marblehead Patch will be posting updates to this story as they become available.