One dead and another critical after car hit a group of fans outside a popular Comic Con event (Image: NINE NEWS)
A car has crashed into a crowd of people outside a major Comic Con event, killing at least one person and leaving another fighting for the life. Police say a Toyota Echo mounted a kerb on Langs Road near the Melbourne Showgrounds just after 5pm, hitting two pedestrians, both males in their early 20s.
Emergency services raced to the scene, where thousands had gathered for the two-day Supanova Comic Con and Gaming celebration. One of men sadly died at the scene, he is yet to be formally identified. The second pedestrian was taken to hospital with serious lower limb injuries and is currently in a life-threatening condition.
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A third person, who is not believed to have been struck, has been taken to hospital for shock. It is understood the trio had been at the Supernova Comic Con.
A man, known to police, has been arrested and is in police custody.
A Victoria Police spokesperson 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.”
The car, believed to be a rental vehicle, continued for a further 120 metres after striking the pedestrians. It passed between two trees before crashing into the crowd.
The car was travelling north when it crossed lanes and mounted the footpath. State Emergency Service marquees were quickly set up outside the venue shortly after the crash.
Detective Inspector Craig McEvoy noted that the circumstances were “extremely unusual”.
“They are tragic, tragic circumstances,” McEvoy said.
“The vehicle has travelled a significant distance along the footpath, we will try to understand the causation of what’s caused the driver to travel that distance along the footpath”, he added.
McEvoy continued: “He’s well known to police at this point in time.” Police are still yet to determine if drugs, alcohol, or speed were involved.
Harrowing footage from the scene showed a pair of black shoes lying on the footpath following the crash.
Witnesses said they saw a silver Toyota driving “at speed” towards a group of people. Tom had just left the festival with his wife when havoc struck.
“I heard a screech and a guy mounted the kerb at an erratic speed, hit a couple people,” he told The Age.
He said he saw the car do a U-turn and drive towards him, but it stalled. Tom claimed he ran up to the driver to stop him from fleeing the scene.
He described him as “aggressive” but said he was able to restrain him until cops arrived.
“I said, ‘you’re not going anywhere mate’”, Tom said. Tom’s wife, a paramedic, immediately attended to one of the seriously injured victims, he said.
She supported them for 20 minutes until emergency services arrived.
“He couldn’t move but he was breathing”, Tom said.
