Police notifying family of fatality find children home alone

BUFORD - Two children were found alone in an apartment when authorities went there to notify the family of a fatality Sunday. <br> <br> Gwinnett County police said James Ray Bates Jr., 26, was killed in an accident about 6:33 a.m. Sunday. He lost control of his car on Ga. 20 near Old Peachtree Road, not far from the Summer Park Apartments where he lived with his wife. <br> <br> Authorities found two children, aged 2 and 4, alone in the couple&#39;s apartment. Police believe the mother was at work at the time. The children were turned over to the Department of Family and Children Services pending an investigation. <br> <br> ``The lieutenant from the Buford precinct told me the woman had just been told of her husband&#39;s death and about losing both her children,&#39;&#39; Cpl. Ray Dunlap said. ``There was no food there and no beds in the apartment.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> No charges were filed Sunday against the Buford woman, who was not identified. <br> <br> Bates, who police believe was not wearing a seat belt, died during surgery at Gwinnett Medical Center.