(Sunday, June 6^th, 2010 @ approximately 3:30 AM) Investigators with the Gwinnett County Police Accident Investigations Unit responded to the scene of a fatal accident involving a single passenger car. The incident occurred on Highway 316 approximately 1 mile west of Drowning Creek Road.  This is a portion of roadway within an unincorporated Gwinnett County associated with Dacula.  

Preliminary investigation has indicated that a 1999 Nissan Sentra was traveling Westbound upon Highway 316 when the driver lost control over the vehicle.  The vehicle left the roadway, traveling a short distance on the right shoulder of the westbound lanes.  The vehicle then crossed over both westbound lanes of traffic, the center median and both eastbound lanes of traffic before impacting a guardrail adjacent to the eastbound lanes of Highway 316.  The driver of the Nissan was not wearing a seatbelt and was ejected from the vehicle.  He was pronounced deceased at the scene, an apparent result of the injuries he received during the accident.  No other persons were in the Nissan or injured at the time of this incident. 

The deceased has been identified as 28 year-old Adrian Arias of Lawrenceville.  The accident continues to be investigated by members of the Gwinnett County Police Department Accident Investigation Unit.  It appears that alcohol was a factor in this event.  It does not appear that any other vehicles or persons contributed to this accident.     

The Gwinnett County Police Department would like to emphasize the importance of buckling-up, reminding motorists that in roughly 45% of all motor vehicle fatalities nationwide during 2009, a noted lack of seatbelt use contributed significantly to the victim's death.   

The officers of the Gwinnett County Police Department are committed to reducing alcohol related accidents and deaths. Throughout the summer they will be participating in numerous operations and patrols, saturating various roadways within Gwinnett County with police officers targeting impaired driving.