Garner baseball community rallies for family killed in accident

GARNER, NC (WNCN) – A baseball family is coming together to remember a family killed in a car crash on Memorial Day.

Late Tuesday night, Garner police told CBS 17 that 8-year-old Miles Campbell had been pronounced dead. His parents, 28-year-old Tyler Campbell and 29-year-old Susan Campbell, were killed in the accident on Monday.

More than 100 players, parents and coaches from Garner Baseball Inc. gathered for a vigil.

“The great thing about the baseball community, however, is the families,” said Brice Ownes, president of Garner Baseball Inc. “The baseball families here have already started to lean on each other and support each other.”

Garner police said the driver, 25-year-old Jordan Porter, ran a red light and struck the family’s car. Police charged him with driving under the influence.

After the vigil, the teams played baseball in Miles’ honor. Owens said Miles’ grandparents told him Miles would want the games to continue.

Cutler Harris was Miles’ assistant coach on the Trash Pandas. He said Miles is faster than anyone else on the team, but that’s not why he stands out.

“We came together when the coaching staff was wondering who would receive the award for sportsmanship, and the choice immediately fell on Miles Campbell,” Harris said.

His friendly, optimistic attitude made the decision easy.

“Even on the days when we were throwing in the bullpen and he couldn’t hit the ball, he was still smiling,” Harris said.

Harris said that was a reflection of Miles’ parents. He said they were supportive and his mother was always there with her camera, smiling from ear to ear.

“I asked Miles, what do you attribute your success to,” Harris said. “He looked at me and said, ‘My dad and I have been working in the backyard all the time.'”

Harris knows Miles not only as a player, but also as a friend of his son, who played with Miles.

“He burst into tears and said, ‘You know, Dad, Miles was one of my best friends,'” Harris said. “And this is only a short season. For him to say something like that was just heartbreaking for me as a father, but it also spoke to him as a person.”

Garner police said they expect additional charges to be filed as the investigation continues.