Three die in collision on Collins Hill Road

Police suspect alcohol played a role in an early morning head-on collision Saturday that left three people dead in Gwinnett County.

The man driving the vehicle that caused the accident was going above the speed limit as he drove around a curve on Collins Hill Road shortly after 3 a.m., said Cpl. Illana Spellman, a Gwinnett Police spokeswoman.

That vehicle, a 2001 Chevrolet Camaro, crossed the center line and slammed into a 1992 BMW, killing the drivers of both vehicles and a female passenger in the Camaro, she said.

A female passenger in the BMW was taken to the hospital and is expected to live. Police believe speed and alcohol were factors in the accident.

Gwinnett police on Monday identified the Camaro driver as Christopher B. Phillips, 23, of Sugar Hill. His passenger, who was also killed, was identified as Brittany Hopkins, 26, of Sugar Hill.

The BMW driver was identified as Elmore Dudley III, 42, of Lawrenceville.

The name of the injured passenger from the BMW has not been released.

Staff writer Mike Morris contributed to this article.