Car swerves into group of people outside Melbourne Showgrounds

Confirmed one dead. One critical. Driver acting aggressively afterwards. This isn’t going to be good.

A car has swerved into a group of people outside a fan convention at Melbourne Showgrounds, killing one pedestrian and seriously injuring another.
Police officers and State Emergency Service crews raced to the scene after 5pm, where the popular Supanova Comic Con and Gaming event was being held on Saturday.

Dozens of police and SES volunteers had taped off the street and were interviewing witnesses shortly after 6pm.
A witness, Tom, who only gave his first name, had just left the festival with his wife and young daughter when a silver Toyota sped past them. “I heard a screech and a guy mounted the kerb at an erratic speed, hit a couple people,” he said.

When the car U-turned back down the street towards Tom, it stalled, and he ran up to the driver and stopped him from fleeing.
“He was erratic,” Tom said. “I said, ‘you’re not going anywhere mate.’”
Police arrived at the scene shortly after and arrested the Toyota’s driver.
Tom said his wife, a paramedic, worked on a seriously injured victim for 20 minutes before emergency services relieved her.
“He couldn’t move, but he was breathing,” he said.

A police officer was overheard at the scene saying the incident was “graphic” and difficult to witness.

Emergency services attended after a car struck two pedestrians, killing one, outside Supanova fan expo.
Emergency services attended after a car struck two pedestrians, killing one, outside Supanova fan expo. LUIS ENRIQUE ASCUI
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,” she 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.”

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Three SES marquees have been set up outside the Ascot Vale venue, next to Flemington Racecourse. An SES spokesperson confirmed their Essendon and Brimbank units had been called to assist.
Best-selling comic author Tom Taylor, who was attending the event, said event-goers were being directed away from Gate 2, the entrance used by exhibitors.
He could see a severely damaged blue-grey sedan on the curb, police tape and numerous police and security guards directing people from the area.
The Supanova Comic Con and Gaming event – which was scheduled to run all weekend at Melbourne Showgrounds – describes itself as “the welcoming home of Australia’s pop culture fandom” and “a place to rejoice in cosplay in expressing your inner geek, your inner child”.

Interesting.

I was gunna head to it today, but found out a day or two ago the organisers are a bit shit, and looked it up to confirm.

Fuck, there was a lot of people there today too

So like anyone have a description?

Very upsetting. My thoughts and prayers are for the victims and their families, as well as anybody who had to witness that😢

I passed ascot vale this morning, how horrific. Condolences to the victims family. 

Could be hate crime but hard to be sure without knowing the assailant’s and victims’ backgrounds. But IMO more likely to be a road rage (driver possibly under influence). Cause Epsom Rd and Langs Rd have always been a road rage galore on Showground event days when many drivers try to cut in front of cars queuing (for at least 2 hrs on average) to be marshalled into the Showground parking lot. 

I’m going to Supanova tomorrow for the first time in 2 years. It is a shame it had to be ruined by such a disgusting act against other people’s lives.

We were there today. Gorgeous crowd, as always. It’s always such a friendly, generous and warm experience. We left at about 4 so saw none of this. It’s such a tragedy.

How horrible. Condolences to the victims and their families.