A tragic incident unfolded outside Melbourne’s Supanova Comic Con and Gaming event on Saturday afternoon when a car ploughed into a group of pedestrians, killing a young man and leaving another fighting for his life. Emergency services rushed to the Melbourne Showgrounds in Ascot Vale shortly after 5:00 pm following the fatal collision.
According to Victoria Police Detective Inspector Craig McEvoy, a grey Toyota Echo was travelling along Langs Road when it abruptly crossed onto the wrong side of the street. The vehicle mounted the kerb and drove 120 metres down the footpath, navigating a narrow stretch between a two-metre fence, trees, and power poles before striking the group. Inspector McEvoy described the vehicle's destructive trajectory as extremely rare and highly unusual.
The pedestrians, all young men in their 20s who had just left the pop-culture convention, bore the brunt of the collision. Tragically, one man died at the scene, while another was rushed to the hospital with life-threatening lower-limb injuries. A third man survived without physical injury but was left deeply traumatised.
In the chaotic aftermath, bystanders quickly sprang into action to help. One witness reported that his wife, an off-duty paramedic, provided emergency medical assistance to a severely injured victim for twenty minutes before first responders arrived to take over.
The driver, identified as a 33-year-old man from Werribee who is well known to authorities, allegedly behaved aggressively following the crash. He was restrained by a witness to prevent him from fleeing and was subsequently arrested by an off-duty police officer with the help of the public. The man is currently under police guard in the hospital as the Major Collision Investigation Unit continues its probe.
Event organizers released a statement expressing their devastation over the unspeakable tragedy that occurred just outside their gates.
“We here at Supanova Comic Con & Gaming are deeply saddened and distressed by the incident... Our thoughts and prayers go out to all those affected.”
While police cordoned off the main exhibitor entry at Gate 2, the convention proceeded with reopening on Sunday morning to continue supporting attendees. Organizers also scheduled a minute’s silence at midday to stand in solidarity with the victims, their families, and the impacted community.
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