Reward offered in search for ATV driver who hit trooper

ROWAN COUNTY, N.C. — An ATV driver intentionally hit a state trooper early Saturday morning in Rowan County, Gov. Pat McCrory said.

Around 2 a.m., trooper Robert Charubini noticed two ATVs driving on N.C. 153.

Charubini left his car and approached the drivers when they pulled onto Harmony Lane inside a China Grove neighborhood.

One of the ATV drivers sped toward Charubini and struck him.

When the same driver tried to strike Charubini again, he fired shots at the ATV.

The two drivers then fled the scene.

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Charubini was taken to Carolinas Medical Center-Northeast in Concord with non-life-threatening injuries.

“We’re going to be looking for those people that did harm to one of our public safety officials. Totally inexcusable,” McCrory said.

The North Carolina Troopers Association is offering a reward of $1,000 and a local bail bondsman is donating $200 for information that leads directly to the arrest of the ATV drivers.

Anyone with information about the drivers are asked to contact the Highway Patrol Communications Center at 800-233-3151.

Check back for more on this developing story.

WSOC