Driver charged with murder smoked marijuana, drank several beers before crash that killed Garner family, warrants reveal
The driver charged with murder in a DWI crash that killed a family of three on Memorial Day in Garner was drinking and smoking before the crash, according to search warrants obtained by WRAL News.
According to an indictment from a state grand jury, Jordan Porter, 25, was charged with three counts of second-degree murder on Tuesday. He was previously charged with driving while impaired.
According to the Garner Police Department, on May 27 a Chevy Trailblazer driven by Porter was traveling west on U.S. 70 and ran a red light, striking a blue Mazda CX5 Select and a black Cadillac Escalade at the intersection.
Two adults in the Mazda identified as 28-year-old Tyler Campbell and 29-year-old Susan Campbell died from their injuries at the scene. Their 8-year-old son, Miles, was taken to WakeMed in critical condition and was declared brain dead the day after the crash. Miles' organs were donated to save lives.
Porter, who was transported to the hospital with minor injuries, was initially charged with driving while impaired.
According to search warrants, Porter's wife was interviewed by investigators at the hospital, where she said her husband had consumed two to three beers while at Rainbow Lanes, a bowling alley in Clayton, and also smoked marijuana before leaving the house to go to work.
His wife also said they knew the car was in need of repair work and said the brakes and steering had issues, according to warrants. DMV records confirmed the vehicle hadn't had a safety inspection since Feb. 29, 2020.
Warrants also revealed that investigators found the following items inside Porter's car:
- Airplane bottle
- Rolling papers
- Open Busch Ice can
- Open Coors Light bottle
- Unopened Busch Ice can
- Open boxes of a 12-pack of Busch Ice
- Cigar cutter
- Lighter
In addition to the three murder charges, the grand jury also charged Porter with the following crimes:
- 3 felony counts of death by vehicle
- 1 felony count of maintaining a vehicle for controlled substance
- Expired inspection
- Expired registration tags
- Fail to stop at a red light
- Transporting open container of alcoholic beverage after consuming alcohol
- Reckless driving
- Possession of marijuana paraphernalia
Porter has a lengthy history of traffic offenses stretching back years. WRAL News discovered a lawsuit against Jordan Porter for a three-car crash in 2017. It was dropped, but he was accused of speeding, passing improperly and not being able to control the car. Since 2015, Porter has had 12 violations levied against him.
Porter’s first scheduled court appearance is Thursday at 9 a.m.
A visitation for the Campbell family will be held Wednesday from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Corinth Baptist Church at 767 Pinehurst Rd. in Ellenboro. Funeral services will be held Thursday at noon at Corinth Baptist Church. A memorial service will also be held Saturday at 3 p.m. at the Summit Church at 1120 Vandora Springs Rd. in Garner.
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