GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. -- The Gwinnett County Police Department is investigating after a woman was killed attempting to enter her apartment complex’s automatic gate.

Officials said the incident happened just after 2 a.m. Thursday at the Holland Park Apartment Complex on McKendree Church Road in Lawrenceville.

Authorities believe 24-year-old Jamie Melissa Coleman, a resident of the complex, was attempting to enter the gated community by activating the entrance card reader. Officials believe Coleman opened her card door and leaned outside so she could use her key card to activate the reader.

Police believe her car moved forward, making contact with the cement post that protects the car reader, pinning the driver between her car and the door.

Coleman was pronounced dead at the scene. Officials believe she died as a result of asphyxiation.

Authorities said they also believe alcohol was a contributing factor.

"It was pretty horrible," said Darren Moloney, spokesman for the Gwinnett Police Department. "What can you say? It was an accident."

The investigation is continuing.