Police arrested a 22-year-old man suspected of striking a spectator with his car Sunday night at an illegal street racing event in Northeast Portland then driving away.

A man was reportedly treated for serious but not life-threatening injuries at a Vancouver hospital Sunday night. Police learned the man, whom they have not identified, was injured at a street racing gathering near Northeast 142nd Avenue and Airport Way about 9:30 p.m. He was standing in a parking lot watching the street racers, police said.

Vladyslav Momotok was arrested and suspected of striking a spectator at an illegal street racing event.

Officers tracked Vladyslav Momotok, the suspected hit-and-run driver of a 2007 black Infiniti G35, to a home on the 12800 block of Southeast Foster Road. The car, police said, had damage "consistent with striking a pedestrian."

Momotok was arrested and is in the Multnomah County jail on charges of reckless driving and failure to perform the duties of a driver.

The incident occurred the same day as a front-page story in The Oregonian/OregonLive highlighting the increasingly brazen street racing scene in the Portland area. The report featured video from the scene of a parking lot at Northeast 122nd Avenue and Marine Drive, where spectators stood within feet of cars performing donuts and other dangerous maneuvers.

An Oregonian reporter and photographer witnessed spectators riding on the hood of cars as engines roars and drivers turned tight circles in the parking lot, creating a cascade of smoke.

Sunday night street-racing events regularly draw up to 1,000 spectators across the city, and participants recently shut down the Fremont Bridge for one illegal gathering.

Four people have died in street racing-related incidents in Portland in the past three years.

Momotok wasn't the only suspected street racer to encounter Portland police Sunday night.

According to a statement, police issued eight citations and six warnings to people who were believed to be involved or in attendance at the illegal gatherings.

-- Andrew Theen

atheen@oregonian.com

503-294-4026

@andrewtheen

