Car swerves into crowd outside Supanova Comic Con at Melbourne Showgrounds
A pedestrian is dead and another person is fighting for his life after a car plowed into a crowd outside a major comic book convention in Melbourne, with police launching a major collision investigation and arresting a man at the scene.
The chaotic scene unfolded outside the popular Supanova event on Saturday afternoon when a car veered towards a group of pedestrians in the city’s Showgrounds area.
Emergency services were called to the area just after 5pm when thousands of people gathered for the Supanova Comic Con and Gaming event, a two-day celebration of cosplay, gaming and pop culture.
A Victoria Police spokesman said one 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 spokesman said.
“Police have arrested a man who will be interviewed by police. The circumstances of the collision have not yet been determined and the investigation is ongoing.”
Bestselling comic book writer Tom Taylor, who attended the event, told The Age that attendees were quickly removed from Gate 2, the main entry point, as police secured the area.
He said he saw a heavily damaged blue-gray sedan on the pavement, with police tape cordoning off parts of the site as officers and security worked to clear the crowd.
Mr Taylor, who witnessed the incident, said a silver hatchback sped along Langs Road before heading onto the nature strip and crashing into a group of teenagers.
He said the vehicle then continued on its way and crashed into the fence outside the Showgrounds.
“I could see a severely damaged blue-gray sedan on the pavement, police tape, and numerous officers and security guards directing people from the area,” the imprint said.
Following the collision, Mr Taylor said he approached the driver, who he described as acting 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 helped one of the seriously injured victims and worked on them for about 20 minutes until emergency crews arrived at the scene.
There was a heavy emergency presence at the scene until the evening.
More to come.
