Police release IDs in fatal Gwinnett crash

Gwinnett Police on Monday identified two men killed in a two-car crash in Buford on Sunday.

An investigation showed that Brandon C. Pellien of Sugar Hill was traveling east on Garnett Street and ran a stop sign at the Buford Highway intersection on Sunday, said Cpl. Ed Ritter of Gwinnett Police. Jessica Paterson was traveling south on Buford Highway and her Grand Am collided with Pellien’s Daewoo Lanos, Ritter said.

Both the 29-year-old Pellien of Sugar Hill and his passenger, 48-year-old Steven Barco of Buford died at the scene.

“Both alcohol and speed appear to be contributing causes with this accident,” Ritter said in a

statement. Police are still investigating, Ritter said.

Paterson, 27 of Buford, was driving over the 45 mph speed limit and could not stop before striking the driver’s side of Pellien’s car, Ritter said. A 9-year-old boy and a 5-year-old girl who were passengers in her car were transported to Scottish Rite hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, Ritter said.

Another adult, Kristopher Paterson of Buford, was riding with Paterson.