More details have been released after a local man died from injuries sustained during a car crash in southern Dawson County earlier this month. 

Douglas Gifford, 57, of Dawsonville, died following a July 9 wreck during which he was the passenger of his own vehicle, according to preliminary findings from an ongoing Georgia State Patrol investigation.

This story continues below. 

Troopers from GSP’s Post 37 responded on July 9 at 6:36 p.m. to a single-vehicle crash along War Hill Park Road, south of its intersection with Tom McGinnis Road.

Preliminary results state that a female driver was driving Gifford’s SUV west on War Hill Park Road when she failed to maintain her lane while maneuvering a curve. 

In her comments to GSP, the driver said she swerved to miss a stump before the vehicle ran off the road and overturned and added that that was all she remembered. 

The vehicle then traveled off of the roadway to the right and went up an embankment, striking a tree, according to the crash report. 

The SUV overturned to the left, causing both the driver and Gifford to be ejected, before it came to a final uncontrolled rest in the middle of the roadway on its roof facing north, the report stated. 

Both the driver and Gifford were taken to a local hospital. Gifford succumbed to his injuries two days later. A funeral service was held for him on July 20.

According to his obituary from Dahlonega Funeral Home, Gifford was a “proud [U.S.] Air Force Veteran” who was currently working at John Megel Chevrolet in Dawson County.

He leaves behind his wife, daughter, mother, siblings and extended family members.

Gifford “loved family and country” and “enjoyed tinkering with things around the house and spending time at the gun range,” the obituary stated. 

Gifford earned numerous awards from John Megel and the air force, including the following accolades: Bronze Star Medal With Valor; Air Force Achievement Medal; Outstanding Unit Award with three oak leaf clusters; Combat Readiness Medal with two oak leaf clusters; Air Force Good Conduct Medal with two oak leaf clusters; National Defense Service Medal; Small Arms Expert; and various other awards and ribbons. 

GSP’s Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team B (SCRTB) is assisting with the investigation into the crash. DCN will provide updated information when it becomes available.