MANKATO — A man accused of driving into a group of people in Minnesota allegedly told police that he was assaulted by several men and hit them so he wouldn’t get beat up.

A criminal complaint filed Tuesday charges 21-year-old Juan Carlos Lamas Jr. with multiple counts, including assault, criminal vehicular operation and drunken driving. Police said he deliberately drove into a group of people in Minnesota early Sunday, injuring six.

According to the criminal complaint, Lamas admitted to striking the group after he was involved in a fight over the price paid for some marijuana.

Lamas told a Blue Earth County sheriff’s deputy that several men jumped him and there were too many to fight off, so he got into his vehicle and hit them.