RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — A Goldsboro man on probation has been charged with hit-and-run and DWI among other charges in connection with a collision on Interstate 87 involving House Speaker Tim Moore and another lawmaker. 

Around 9:43 p.m. on Thursday, the N.C. State Highway Patrol responded to a hit-and-run collision on I-87 near mile marker 9 in Wake County. 

The incident initially took place on I-87 near mile marker 13 when a 2000 Chevrolet S-10 pickup truck hit the back of a 2020 Chevrolet Tahoe SUV multiple times as both vehicles were traveling in the southbound lanes, N.C. Highway Patrol Sgt. Chris Knox said Friday. 

Speaker Moore described what happened to reporters on Friday. 

“And this fella, we were going highway speeds, came up behind us at a high rate of speed and rammed into the back of us once, then hit again, then hit at least a third time,” he said. “When he hit it, he hit it really hard. It jolted.” 

The Chevy Tahoe was an N.C. General Assembly Police vehicle driven by Officer Jason Purdue. After being hit, Purdue activated his emergency lights to signal the pickup truck to pull over. 

“Oddly enough, if he had to hit a car, it’s probably good he hit us instead of somebody who’s not trained law enforcement driving the vehicle,” Speaker Moore said. “Officer Purdue did an amazing job keeping control of the car. Had it been somebody without experience, that car could have wrecked and flipped. You never know what could have happened.” 

The driver of the pickup truck, later identified as 38-year-old James Matthew Brogden, failed to stop for blue lights and continued traveling south until he stopped near mile marker 9, Knox said. 

Troopers arrived on the scene and conducted an investigation. The passengers of the Chevy Tahoe were identified as Speaker Moore, N.C. Rep. David Willis and Moore’s Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Gurley. 

Moore said the group attended various events in Wilson earlier in the day and were on their way back to Raleigh when the incident occurred.  

All occupants of the Tahoe and the driver were not injured. 

“Just a bizarre situation. At the end of the day, just glad nobody was hurt,” Moore said. 

Moore said on Friday that he didn’t think he was targeted by Brogden. 

“I’ll tell you at the time it was happening, it certainly felt that way. Seeing, kind of, everything after the fact, that he was impaired and all those circumstances, I don’t think it was targeted,” he said. 

The preliminary investigation indicated that impairment was a factor with regard to Brogden, Knox said. EMS responded to the scene and transported Brogden to WakeMed for further evaluation. 

After being released from the hospital, Brogden was transported to the Wake County Detention Center and charged with misdemeanor speed to elude arrest, failure to heed blue lights and siren, hit-and-run, driving while impaired, failure to reduce speed to avoid a collision, resist public officer and damage to property. He was released on a $1,000 unsecured bond.  

Brogden is on probation for a 2020 conviction for assault on a female and for breaking and entering. 

According to Brogden’s arrest warrant, he will appear in court on March 17.