A learner driver without a licence has been charged after a man was killed and another was seriously hurt outside a comic convention in Melbourne.
The driver of a Toyota Echo allegedly swerved into a group of people outside the Showgrounds just after 5pm last night, hitting two men in their early 20s.
One man from Keysborough in the city’s south-west died at the scene.
The second man was taken to hospital with significant lower limb injuries, and is fighting for life.
A third person in the group was not hit, but has been taken to hospital for shock.
It is understood the trio had been at the Supernova Comic Con and Gaming event.
Police say the Toyota continued along the footpath, before a female off-duty police officer and member of the public intervened and conducted a citizen’s arrest.
The alleged driver, 33-year-old man man from Werribee has been charged with dangerous driving causing death and culpable driving.
He was unlicensed and a learner driver.
He was due to appear before Melbourne Magistrates’ Court this afternoon.
Organisers issued a statement on Saturday night, saying they were “deeply saddened and distressed by the incident” but vowed to continue the weekend-long convention as planned, including a moment to honour the victims.
“Supanova will continue to support all Supa-Fans that come through our doors tomorrow morning, and we will be holding a minute’s silence in sympathy and solidarity of the affected families and friends at 10am before opening our doors to our event,” they said in the statement.
“They are tragic, tragic circumstances,” Detective Inspector Craig McEvoy said.
”We are still yet to determine if drugs, alcohol, or speed were involved”, he added, noting the circumstances were “extremely unusual”.
“The vehicle has travelled a significant distance along the footpath, we will try to understand the causation of what’s caused the driver to travel that distance along the footpath.”
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