Two yet-to-be identified people died in a vehicle fire on Morris Majestic Road in the early hours of Thursday morning, according to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.

Chief Deputy Randy Christian said the two victims are likely a married couple from Warrior, indicated by data retrieved when running the vehicle’s registration information through a database.

“We are waiting on the medical examiner to make a positive ID before releasing their names,” said Christian. “Our hearts go out to the victims’ families. There is never a good time, but certainly the holidays are the worst time for this kind of tragedy.” Christian said the names were also being withheld until the victims’ families could be notified.

Christian said the sheriff’s office received the call about the car fire from a passerby at about 1 a.m. Thursday morning. When deputies arrived at the scene, they found a burning 1976 Chevrolet pick-up truck against a tree that was approximately 25 feet from the road.

“The fire was extinguished and the bodies of an adult male and an adult female were discovered inside,” said Christian. “It appears the vehicle was traveling north on Morris Majestic Road when the driver lost control, causing the vehicle to leave the road and strike a tree… No doubt the impact caused the fire.”

Morris police said they were not involved in the investigation.

UPDATE: The identities of the Warrior couple killed in a car fire on Morris-Majestic road on Dec. 30 have been released by the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.

Christopher Dewayne Rickles and his wife Constance Adkins Rickles were apparently killed, according to the Sheriff’s Office, when their 1976 Chevrolet pick-up truck left the road and struck a tree, causing the vehicle to ignite.