Police tentatively ID victims of Tuesday crash

SUGAR HILL - Gwinnett County Police Wednesday believed they knew the identities of the two men killed in a Sugar Hill area traffic accident earlier this week.

Police have tentatively identified the driver as 30 year old James P. Gifford of Ellijay. They believe the passenger is 21 year old Thomas Hawkins of Snellville.

Police Corporal Edwin Ritter said the wreck happened around 12:32 a.m. Tuesday on Sycamore Road near Nelson Brogdon Boulevard.

"According to investigators, the driver of a dark gray BMW 740i was heading northbound when he lost control of the vehicle."

The car hit a tree in the 5300 block of Sycamore.

"After impact, the vehicle became fully engulfed in fire. The vehicle was occupied by the driver and the passenger and both were deceased when the fire was extinguished," Ritter said.

Investigators were waiting on confirmation of the victims' identities through dental records, according to Ritter. Police believe the two men were traveling to the lake after leaving an alcohol anonymous class.