A car mounted a kerb and struck pedestrians outside the Supanova Comic Con and Gaming event at the Melbourne Showgrounds on Langs Road in Ascot Vale just after 5pm on Saturday. One male pedestrian died at the scene, and a second male pedestrian was taken to hospital with life-threatening lower limb injuries. Detective Inspector Craig McEvoy described the incident, stating that for unknown reasons the car travelled across the southbound lanes, up onto the footpath where it impacted two young males in their 20s, who were walking in a group of three. He added that one of the males died at the scene, and the other sustained significant lower limb injuries and was conveyed to hospital. The circumstances of the collision are extremely unusual, according to police.
Both victims are males in their 20s, and they had been at the Supanova Comic Con and Gaming event. A third person in the group was not struck but was taken to hospital for shock. The deceased pedestrian has not been formally identified.
Police have arrested a man at the scene. The arrested driver is a 33-year-old man from Werribee, according to multiple media reports. The driver is well known to police.
I heard a screech and a guy (allegedly) mounted the kerb at an erratic speed, hit a couple people.
The driver was arrested by an off-duty police officer who was assisted by members of the public, according to Detective Inspector Craig McEvoy. The driver remains under police guard in hospital, according to multiple media reports. His bail status has not been confirmed by police, according to multiple media reports.
The car was a Toyota, described variably as a grey Toyota, Toyota Echo, or silver Toyota. It is believed to be a rental or hire vehicle.
The car was travelling north when it crossed lanes and mounted the footpath. After impact, the car travelled approximately 120 metres along the footpath before coming to rest, as described by Detective Inspector Craig McEvoy. It passed between two trees before hitting the pedestrians.
I said, 'You're not going anywhere, mate'.
Police are investigating the cause of the incident, including whether speed, alcohol, or drugs were involved. It is not clear whether the incident was intentional. The circumstances of the collision are extremely unusual, according to police.
Witnesses described the driver as aggressive and attempting to flee before being restrained. A witness named Tom described hearing a screech and seeing the car mount the kerb at an erratic speed, hitting people, according to Daily Mail - News.
Tom described seeing the car do a U-turn and drive towards him before it stalled, and he intervened to stop the driver from fleeing, according to Daily Mail - News. His wife, a paramedic, provided aid to a victim for 20 minutes before ambulances arrived, according to multiple media reports.
He couldn't move, but he was breathing.
Emergency services raced to the scene, according to multiple media reports. State Emergency Service marquees were set up outside the venue after the crash, according to multiple media reports.
Supanova Comic Con & Gaming organisers released a statement expressing deep sadness and distress. Organizers plan to hold a minute's silence at 10am on Sunday before continuing the event.
Police are urging anyone with information, CCTV, or dashcam footage to contact Crime Stoppers.
The deceased pedestrian has not been formally identified.
Key unknowns persist, including what caused the driver to mount the kerb and travel along the footpath. The exact condition and prognosis of the hospitalized victim with life-threatening injuries have not been disclosed. Whether the driver will face charges and what specific charges might be applied depend on the investigation's findings.