PROGRESO – A 20-year-old Mercedes man who crashed into a Border Patrol unit on Thursday was identified by authorities.

Ricardo Epifanio Rico was taken into custody after the collision.

According to a U.S. Federal Criminal Complaint, the incident started around 2:00 p.m. A Border Patrol agent saw a raft crossing the Rio Grande with multiple people inside.

At the same time, another Border Patrol agent witnessed Rico’s vehicle heading south towards the levee. Agents said they lost sight of the raft and the car.

A short time later, another agent saw Rico’s car traveling north at a high rate of speed. They activated their emergency lights and sirens, bringing their units to a complete stop.

Rico then lost control of his car and drove into an irrigation ditch.

The suspect then tried to get out of the ditch when it began to skid and collided with the agent’s vehicle causing the Rico’s car to rollover. He tried running from agents.

They were able to apprehend him a short time later.

Agents also found nine bundles of marijuana from inside the car.

He told authorities he had been hired to drive down to the river to pick up the drugs.