A pedestrian has died and another person is fighting for life after a car drove into a crowd outside a major Melbourne comic convention, with police declaring a major collision investigation and arresting a man at the scene.
The chaotic scene has unfolded outside the popular Supanova event after a car veered into a group of pedestrians at the city’s Showgrounds precinct on Saturday afternoon.
Emergency services were called to the area just after 5pm, where thousands had gathered for the Supanova Comic Con and Gaming event, a two-day celebration of cosplay, gaming and pop culture.
A Victoria Police spokeswoman said a pedestrian died at the scene, and another was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries.
“Major Collision Investigation Unit detectives are investigating a fatal collision in Ascot Vale this afternoon,” the spokeswoman said.
“Police have arrested a man who will be interviewed by police. The circumstances surrounding the collision are yet to be established and the investigation remains ongoing.”
Best-selling comic author Tom Taylor, who was attending the event, told The Age that attendees were quickly moved away from Gate 2, the main entry point for exhibitors, as police secured the area.
He described seeing a badly damaged blue-grey sedan on the curb, with police tape cordoning off sections of the site while officers and security worked to clear crowds.
Mr Taylor, who witnessed the incident, said a silver hatchback sped along Langs Rd before mounting the nature strip and striking a group of young people.
He said the vehicle then continued on and crashed into a fence outside the Showgrounds.
“I could see a severely damaged blue-grey sedan on the curb, police tape and numerous police and security guards directing people from the area,” he told the masthead.
After the impact, Mr Taylor said he approached the driver, who he described as behaving aggressively.
He said he was able to restrain the man and prevent him from leaving before police arrived.
Mr Taylor also said his wife, a paramedic, immediately assisted one of the seriously injured victims, working on them for about 20 minutes before emergency crews took over.
A heavy emergency presence remained at the scene into the evening.
More to come.
