YOKOSUKA NAVAL BASE, Japan — A Yokosuka sailor turned himself in to military police last weekend after allegedly striking two Japanese people with his car at a popular hangout in Yokohama for automobile enthusiasts.

The sailor remained restricted to Yokosuka Naval Base on Tuesday while Japanese and Navy officials investigate, base spokeswoman Michelle Stewart said.

According to Japanese police, the sailor hit two people with his purple, Y-plate car around 11 p.m. Friday in the Daikoku parking area along the Bay Shore route of Shuto highway.

Yokosuka resident Kenta Kawazoe, 32, suffered a spinal injury and remained hospitalized Tuesday, a Tsurumi police spokesman said. A Japanese woman with Kawazoe received minor injuries that did not require hospitalization.

The incident stemmed from an altercation between the sailor and Kawazoe about money owed for car tires, Stewart said. The Daikoku parking area is a well-known place for car enthusiasts to gather, show off cars and arrange races, and police said Tuesday the men knew each other from previous gatherings.

Kawazoe stood in front of the sailor’s car while the sailor tried to drive away after the argument, police said. The case is being handled as attempted murder because the sailor is believed to have started the car knowing Kawazoe was standing in front of it.

Japanese authorities have not requested to transfer the sailor into their custody under the pretrial extradition allowed by the status of forces agreement, but they will work with the Navy on the investigation, the spokesman said.

They will decide whether to make the custody request after the investigation, the spokesman said.