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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.
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.”
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”.
More to come
Angus Delaney is a reporter at The Age. Email him at angus.delaney@theage.com.au or contact him securely on Signal at angusdelaney.31Connect via email.
Bianca Hall is The Age’s environment and climate reporter, and has worked in a range of roles including as a senior writer, city editor, and in the federal politics bureau in Canberra.Connect via X, Facebook or email.From our partners
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