A husband and wife were killed after a driver ran a red light at a Garner intersection Monday afternoon. After a 24-hour stay in the hospital, their young son did not make it either.
The 8-year-old critically injured in the Garner crash did not survive. Tuesday night, his family said he was declared brain dead and will become an organ donor.
The crash happened just before 1:30 p.m. Monday near the intersection of U.S. 70 and New Rand Road.
According to the Garner Police Department, a Chevy Trailblazer, driven by 25-year-old Jordan Alexander 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.
Porter, who was transported to the hospital with minor injuries, was charged with driving while impaired. The district attorney said they are waiting for blood test results to come back before deciding on additional charges.
Two adults in the Mazda identified as 28-year-old Tyler Campbell and 29-year-old Susan Campbell died from their injuries. Their 8-year-old son, Miles, was taken to WakeMed in critical condition and was declared brain dead on Tuesday, according to a family member.
The passengers in the Escalade were not injured.
Garner couple loved to travel, went to NC State
Tyler Campbell's sister told WRAL News the couple graduated from North Carolina State University and stayed in the Triangle after college. The couple and their son lived just about 2.5 miles from where the crash occurred, she said.
According to relatives, the family was adventurous and loved to travel.
Tyler Campbell, an Eagle Scout, ran marathons and 5Ks and had plans to run a marathon in Chicago next month, his sister said. Tyler worked at a software company while Susan worked as a nurse at WakeMed Cary.
His aunt said Miles was a Cub Scout, baseball player and martial arts student at Snap Kick Martial Arts.
Relatives said their request is to "make sure people know how loved they were by all of their family."
Family members shared a photo of the couple at a NC State football game.
Garner Baseball Inc. held a vigil Tuesday at Lions Field, located at 417 W. Main St., writing:
"The Campbell family is part of the GBI family, as Miles played on the Trash Pandas in the Pinto league this season. We are absolutely heartbroken for the Campbell family and are praying and thinking about Miles and his team of doctors, the first responders, classmates, teammates, and friends as he battles for his life."
Snap Kick Martial Arts also posted about the family, writing, "Susan and Tyler were wonderful parents and cherished members of our community. Their unwavering support and kindness touched many of us, and their loss is profoundly felt by all who knew them."
Snap Kick Martial Arts held another vigil an hour later at 1411 Averasboro Road in Garner. Many family and friends stayed after the vigil ended to comfort one another.
On Monday afternoon, police closed the eastbound lanes of U.S. 70 between New Rand and Benson roads for hours.
One Cumberland County resident, who identified herself as "Donna," was shopping for mattresses in Garner with her husband and narrowly missed the accident.
"If I had been a few seconds earlier pulling out, it would have been me," she said.
Friends recall family as compassionate, charitable
On Wednesday, the Campbell family spent time together to share stories about Miles and his parents.
One way they're remembering the family is through what Miles called a "goodie bag." It's filled with basic supplies. They say Miles wanted to hand them out whenever he saw a homeless person.
They're among many remembering the young family as generous, compassionate, and kind.
Ade Oni, a pastor at Summit Church in Garner, said he was shattered in absorbing the news about the deaths.
"Miles was a big personality," said Oni. "Susie was just as sweet as can be, and Tyler was kind of stoic, but a really consistent father."
Oni is asking the community to look to faith in getting through the painful loss.
"The word says that the Lord is our refuge and our strength, and I think right now our community could use a refuge," he said. "In times like this, as much as we seek understanding and an answer, I think we also need to seek the presence of God."
Cutler Harris was an assistant coach on the baseball team Miles played on. Miles won a sportsmanship award for his generosity and attitude and was supportive of his teammates.
"Miles is a kid who would go the extra mile to bring joy to those that are here, and now even with him not being present in this life, he’s going to be able to somehow touch the life of others," Harris said.
Now, the unwelcome feelings of grief and loss are settling in.
"When you look at a scenario like this, you try to look for hope," Harris said.
It's happening as a community struggles to make sense of an entire family taken from them in an instant.
"Honestly, one of the most loving things that we can do is sitting with the feelings, because Tyler and Susie and Miles are worth every tear," Oni said.
An obituary said plans were underway for a funeral service in Rutherford County.
