Sage Jorel Gardner indicted on second degree murder charge after deadly chase with troopers

A man involved in a high-speed chase with troopers that resulted in a fatal crash has been indicted on second-degree murder charges. Sage Jorel Gardner, 30, was previously charged with felony hit and run serious injury/death, assault with a deadly weapon serious injury, and flee/eluding arrest with a motor vehicle. According to the North Carolina Highway Patrol's crash report, Gardner was driving his 2005 Acura while fleeing an unmarked trooper vehicle on westbound I-40 in Raleigh when he collided into another driver.

The victim of the accident was identified as Lester Alfonso who was driving his 2019 Subaru south on Rock Quarry Road at the time of the incident. As Gardner took the off-ramp from I-40 to Rock Quarry Road, he lost control of his car and collided into a ditch before becoming airborne and traveling across the roadway. He then hit a raised concrete divider and road sign before colliding into Alfonso’s Subaru.

Gardner's car came to rest upside down in the middle of the road while Alfonso's car stopped on its side by the shoulder. Unfortunately, Alfonso died as a result of injuries sustained during this collision.

According to NCSHP reports, Gardner had been driving at speeds up to 100 miles per hour while trying to evade troopers; however, he was traveling at approximately 75 miles per hour when he crashed into Alfonso’s vehicle.

Gardner now faces additional charges for second-degree murder after being indicted by grand jury proceedings related to this case.

Legal Help

If you or a loved one was a victim in this or a similar accident, you may be entitled to financial compensation.

If you would like to speak with an attorney about your potential case, we can connect you with an experienced injury lawyer who will provide you with a free, no-obligation case consultation - an attorney who will advance all case costs and will not collect a fee unless they win your case. Click here to get connected.