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Sarasota sheriff on road rage incident: 'The victim is fortunate to be alive'

The suspect illegally traveled to the U.S. from Mexico through Texas in March 2014, according to Sarasota County Sheriff Tom Knight.
Credit: Sarasota County Sheriff's Office
Authorities are looking to identify the driver of a gray car seen sideswiping a motorcyclist and pushing him into the curb during a road rage incident in Sarasota.

SARASOTA, Fla. – The Sarasota County sheriff announced Wednesday the driver suspected of hitting a motorcyclist with his car entered the country illegally.

Sheriff Tom Knight said Magidiel Medrano-Bonilla illegally traveled to the U.S. from Mexico through Texas on March 1, 2014.

Medrano-Bonilla was born in El Salvador, according to Knight. The 30-year-old man was unable to provide sheriff’s deputies any form of identification, Knight said.

“I think it’s fair to say that this victim is fortunate to be alive today,” said Sarasota County Sheriff Tom Knight.

Knight said stickers on the car, the license plate, the former car's owner and text messages helped lead detectives to finding Medrano-Bonilla.

Watch: Sarasota County sheriff discusses arrest of suspected driver in road rage incident

Related: Deputies arrest alleged driver in Sarasota road rage incident

Medrano-Bonilla worked as a landscaper at a company called Labor Ready, according to Knight.

Knight said he did not know why Medrano-Bonilla was in Sarasota.

“He did not have a history or gang affiliation that we know of,” Knight said.

Watch: Car slams into motorcycle during road rage incident

The road-rage incident happened around 5 p.m. Saturday, April 7, near the intersection of South Beneva Road and Webber Street.

The victim, Darin Hendrickson, is recovering from a fractured rib with staples in his knee.

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