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. No mug shot has been taken since Porter has not been served, according to the district attorney. WRAL News was able to obtain a photo of Porter provided by a family member.
On Wednesday, Porter's bond was pre set at $3 million by a judge. Court documents showed that Porter was driving 82 mph in a 45 mph zone at the time of the crash.
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.
Family of 3 killed in Garner crash remembered as generous, compassionate stewards for community
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.
Karl Knudsen, Porter's attorney, said the circ*mstances are tragic for all involved.
"This is a terrible tragedy all the way around," Knudsen said. "It’s horrible that three really nice people got lives got cut short, but sending Jordan to prison for rest of his life would not change that."
Knudsen said his blood alcohol level was less than the legal limit based on the information available to them.
Porter, who was transported to the hospital with injuries, was initially charged with driving while impaired. Knudsen said Jordan has two children and is expecting another child soon.
A judge ordered that Porter not have any contact with the families involved.
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
- Failure to stop at a red light
- Transporting open container of alcoholic beverage after consuming alcohol
- Reckless driving
- Possession of marijuana paraphernalia
Man charged with DWI in deadly Garner crash has lengthy history of traffic offenses
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.
Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman provided a statement on Porter's traffic record:
“Mr. Porter currently has been charged with multiple offenses in Wake County arising out of this tragic accident. Under rules that govern prosecutors, I cannot comment on this case nor would it be appropriate for me to characterize his past driving history at this time. In 2022 he was charged in Wake County with misdemeanor hit and run and larceny arising out of allegations that he was involved in a fender bender in a parking lot and when he and the other driver were on scene he removed the driver’s wallet from his vehicle. After multiple settings of that case, and after the victim had been subpoenaed to court, it appears from a review of the file that the case was dismissed when the court refused to continue it and when the victim had not appeared. One reason a case might end in dismissal is that witnesses do not come to court and the State is not able to move forward. As to other previous charges involving Mr. Porter, it would not be appropriate for me to conjecture as to why a case may be dismissed by a prosecutor in another district. Generally speaking, factors that are considered by prosecutors in deciding how to move forward with a case include the strength of evidence, the availability of witnesses, the prior record of the defendant and the risk to public safety.”
Porter’s first court appearance was originally scheduled for Thursday, but Freeman said she doesn’t expect the hearing to happen Thursday.
A visitation for the Campbell family will be held Wednesday from 4 p.m. to 8 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 Road in Garner.
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