Griswold — A Voluntown woman was killed late this morning after her car struck a telephone pole. The crash shut down a section of Route 138 for several hours as police investigated.

Gloria Barrie, 76, of 143 Shetucket Turnpike, sustained fatal injuries after state police said she tried to pass another car on the right while driving east on Route 138 near Bitgood Road about 11:20 a.m. The driver of the other car, Debbie Pezzente, 51, of Plainfield was not injured.

Police said Barrie’s car struck the right mirror of Pezzente’s car, causing Barrie to lose control. It then went through the metal guardrail on the south side of the road and struck the pole.

State police and members of the Griswold Fire Department responded. The road was reopened around 3 p.m. Anyone who witnessed the accident is asked to contact State Trooper Matthew Siart at 860-848-6500.