Homicide detectives have charged a 26-year-old man with murder after he allegedly drove his car into pedestrians and vehicles in Melbourne's CBD.
Police said on Saturday night the Melton West man had been charged with one count of murder, three counts of attempted murder, three counts of intentionally cause serious injury and two counts of conduct endangering life.
The man appeared at an after-hours court hearing where he was remanded in custody to reappear at Melbourne Magistrates' Court on 15 January, 2024.
The charges follow an incident in which emergency services were called to a report of a man driving a white Toyota Aurion that allegedly collided with three pedestrians, a Mazda CX-5 and a Hyundai in Bourke Street and Russell Street about 6.20pm on Friday.
The driver of the Hyundai, a 76-year-old man from Brunswick, died at the scene.
A car smashed into several pedestrians in Melbourne's CBD before crashing into two other vehicles on Friday night. Source: AAP / JOEL CARRETT/AAPIMAGE
Police do not believe this was a terror-related incident.
Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton said on Saturday the car used in the alleged incident was owned by the driver's mother.
Police believe the car accelerated after allegedly running down the pedestrians at about 6.20pm on Friday.
"Obviously this will bring up memories and trauma for all those who were involved in the 2017 incident in Bourke Street and our hearts go out to them," he said.
"We will have reassurance patrols out in the city today, making sure the public can feel reassured Melbourne is a tremendously safe city."
Six people died and 27 were injured when James Gargasoulas ploughed into them after driving into Bourke Street Mall in 2017.
Friday night's deadly crash is not believed to be connected to any previous Bourke Street incidents.
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