Motorist kills one person, injures 5 in Southeast Portland crashes

PORTLAND — A motorist fatally struck one person and hit other people along streets and sidewalks in Portland on Monday before he fled on foot and was arrested, police said.

One person who was hit died at a hospital, police said. Five other people were hurt and taken to hospitals. Authorities said they believe more people were hurt who did not need ambulance transport.

Police received a call shortly after 1 p.m. that a driver had hit a pedestrian in the Southeastern part of the city near Laurelhurst Park, according to Portland Police Bureau spokesman Derek Carmon.

Additional calls then came from people saying a person driving the same suspect vehicle, a Honda Element with Washington plates, was striking other people and vehicles, he said.

The motorist eventually crashed the Honda a final time near 18th Avenue and Stark Street, fled on foot and with help from the community, was apprehended by police, Carmon said. A group of people saw him run from the scene and corralled him until police were able to take him into custody.

Police said investigators were still working to confirm the driver’s identity.

The incident, which spans dozens of city blocks, is under investigation, police said.