Fatal car crash at Melbourne Showgrounds during Supanova Comic Con kills one, injures another
Consensus Summary
A fatal car crash occurred on April 18, 2026, at approximately 5pm on Langs Road in Ascot Vale, outside the Melbourne Showgrounds, where the Supanova Comic Con & Gaming event was underway. A 33-year-old Werribee man, known to police, drove a silver/grey Toyota Echo onto the footpath, striking two men in their 20s and killing one instantly while critically injuring another. The car traveled 120 metres along the footpath before stalling, and the driver was arrested by an off-duty police officer after being restrained by a witness. Police are investigating whether the incident was intentional or linked to drugs, alcohol, or speed, though no medical cause is suspected. Witnesses described the driver as erratic, and emergency services responded to treat victims and secure the scene, with crowds directed away from the area. The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities are appealing for witnesses or CCTV footage.
â Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- A 33-year-old Werribee man was arrested at the scene and is 'well known to police'
- The incident occurred on Langs Road in Ascot Vale just after 5pm on April 18, 2026
- A silver Toyota Echo (described as grey/blue-grey sedan in some reports) swerved onto the footpath and traveled 120 metres along it
- Two men in their 20s were hit: one died at the scene, another was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries; a third was hospitalized due to trauma
- The driver was arrested by an off-duty police officer with assistance from members of the public
- The crash happened outside the Supanova Comic Con & Gaming event at Melbourne Showgrounds
- Police are investigating whether drugs, alcohol, or speed were involved, and whether the incident was intentional
- Witnesses described the driver as 'erratic' and noted the car's behavior was 'extremely odd'
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Witness Tom (first name only) said the driver was 'erratic' and he physically restrained the driver from fleeing
- Tomâs wife, a paramedic, worked on the seriously injured victim for 20 minutes before emergency services arrived
- Fabian, a Langs Road resident, described seeing the victimâs large black platform boots strewn across the footpath
- A police officer at the scene called the incident 'graphic' and difficult to witness
- Three SES marquees were set up outside the venue, and Essendon and Brimbank SES units were called to assist
- The victim was on his way home from attending the Supanova Comic Con & Gaming convention
- The car struck a group of three men aged in their 20s, with one killed, one critically injured, and one traumatized but unharmed
- Police appealed for witnesses to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000
- Victoria Police spokeswoman confirmed a 'major collision investigation' and that the driver was arrested and would be interviewed
- The car was described as a 'grey Toyota' in the police statement (no mention of silver or Echo model)
- Includes identical details to THEAGE, including witness Tomâs account and Fabianâs observations, but no additional unique information
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- The car is described as a 'silver Toyota Echo' in THEAGE and SMH, but as a 'grey Toyota' in GUARDIAN and 'grey Toyota hatchback' in ABC
- THEAGE and SMH mention a 'blue-grey sedan' seen by witness Tom Taylor, while ABC and GUARDIAN do not reference this color description
Source Articles
âHe was erraticâ: One dead, one fighting for life after car swerves into pedestrians at Showgrounds
Detectives are investigating whether the driver â who is known to police â intentionally swerved on to the footpath outside a fan convention.
Car hits pedestrians in Melbourne, killing Supernova Comic Con attendee
A young man who was killed when a car struck a group of pedestrians in Melbourne's north-west was on his way home from attending the Supernova Comic Con & Gaming convention, police say.
Car drives into crowd in Melbourne, one dead
A man has been arrested after a car drove into a crowd outside a Melbourne comic convention, killing one pedestrian and leaving another fighting for life.
One person dead and one with âlife-threatening injuriesâ after car hits pedestrians outside Melbourne showgrounds
Incident occurred outside venue where Supanova Comic Con event was being held on Saturday Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast One person is dead and another has been taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries after a car struck pedestrians outside a fan convention in inner Melbourne. A car mounted the kerb on Saturday afternoon shortly before 5pm outside the Melbourne showgrounds, where the Supanova Comic Con event was being held. Continue reading...
Breaking: Pedestrian killed, another injured in collision outside Melbourne showgrounds
Police say a car mounted a kerb on Langs Road in Ascot Vale and struck two pedestrians and one of them has died at the scene. The other pedestrian has been taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries.
âHe was erraticâ: One dead, one fighting for life after car swerves into pedestrians at Showgrounds
Detectives are investigating whether the driver â who is known to police â intentionally swerved on to the footpath outside a fan convention.