GARNER, N.C. (WNCN) — The driver charged with murder in a DWI crash that killed a family of three in Garner over Memorial Day weekend was smoking and drinking before the crash, according to search warrants.
On Memorial Day afternoon, a crash was reported in Garner near the intersection of U.S. 70 and New Rand Road.
Police said Jordan Alexander Porter, 25, was driving a Chevy Trailblazer and ran a red light, fatally killing two and critically injuring a third person. Documents show Porter was going 82 miles an hour in a 45-mile-per-hour zone.He was transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Tyler Campbell, 28, the driver of the Mazda, died along with his wife and passenger, Susan Campbell, 29. Their son, 8-year-old Miles Campbell, was transported to WakeMed with life-threatening injuries. He died on May 29 and an honor walk was held on May 30 as staff took his body for an organ donation.
Mary Rizkalla remembers her friend and former colleague, 29-year-old Susie Campbell, dancing and smiling on their nursing shifts.
“She was kindhearted and genuine,” she said. “Susie really cared about everybody.”
It’s been nine days since Rizkalla was told the Campbells were in a deadly crash in Garner.
“Disbelief. Shock. I think for a lot of us, we’re still trying to process it like it doesn’t feel real,” said Rizkalla. “I feel like this could have been prevented.”
Porter faced over 10 traffic-related charges in the past, and most were dismissed.
Now Rizkalla, and a group she helped form called “Nurses Against Drunk Drivers” are working for change, to prevent tragedies like this from happening in the future.
“We’re looking at our DUI interventions and safety things we do here in North Carolina, but we’re also looking at maybe harsher punishments or modifying what we have, to make people think again before getting behind the wheel impaired,” she explained.
The group has written letters to lawmakers and Governor Roy Cooper
Porter was charged with DWI on May 28. On Tuesday, he was indicted by a grand jury with:
- Three counts of felony death by vehicle
- Three counts of second degree murder
- Felony maintaining a vehicle for a controlled substance
- Reckless driving to endanger
- Speeding
- Possession of marijuana paraphernalia
- Failure to stop at a steady red light
- Expired registration card/tag
- Expired/no inspection
- Transporting open container of alcoholic beverage after consuming alcohol
According to search warrants, Porter’s wife, Shelby, was interviewed by investigators at the hospital. She told investigators that her husband had consumed two to three beers at Rainbow Lanes in Clayton and also smoked marijuana before leaving the house to go to work.
Shelby Porter also told investigators that they knew the Chevy Trailblazer needed repair work and the brakes and steering wheel had issues. According to the search warrant, she told investigators they were planning on trying to sell the vehicle.
The search warrant stated that DMV records confirmed the car had not had a safety inspection performed since Feb. 29, 2020, which is required by North Carolina law.
Warrants also revealed investigators found the following items inside Jordan Porter’s car:
- Airplane bottle
- Rolling papers
- An open Busch Ice can
- An open Coors Light bottle
- An unopened Busch Ice can
- Open box of a 12-pack of Busch Ice
- Cigar cutter
- Lighter
Other search warrants seized and analyzed data from both Jordan Porter’s and the Campbell’s vehicles. Jordan Porter’s iPhone was seized by investigators to search for text messages and transaction information prior to the crash.
In a search warrant for Shelby Porter’s iPhone, investigators stated, “CBS 17 New(s) Outlet showed a video from the scene that showed a white female appearing to be Shelby Porter entering the 2006 Chevy Trailblazer while it was still on the scene a short time after the collision.
“It is possible that she could have removed or tampered with evidence and this phone could possess conversations, pictures, messages, or other communication related to these items,” the search warrant stated.
The search warrant also said investigators found Jordan Porter’s Facebook account, which showed pictures of him and his wife. Investigators said they reviewed the account and found later in the investigation that the same account “could not be located.”
The search warrant stated that investigators believe his account could have been deleted or deactivated by Shelby Porter. The search warrant was granted for investigators to search her iPhone.
CBS 17 spoke with Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman about the types of charges Porter is now facing.
“Both here in Wake County and across the state, the state has been able to successfully obtain second-degree murder convictions where there is specific evidence of egregiousness beyond just driving while impaired,” she said.
Freeman also said people should learn from this tragedy.
“This is always a wakeup call when you have something that is as tragic as this particular case for people to really take heed and to pay attention,” she explained.
MORE FROM CBS 17
WAKE COUNTY NEWS
192 affordable housing units coming to Raleigh
PHOTOS: Work underway on $205M future Raleigh City Hall
Road reopens after deadly Creedmoor Rd. crash in Wake Co.
Freeman said this is just the beginning of the legal process, and her goal is to seek justice on behalf of the Campbell family.
Jordan Porter’s bond is set for $3 million. He will be arraigned in Wake County Superior Court on Thursday at 9 a.m.
CBS 17 has reached out to Porter’s attorney and is waiting to hear back.
