One man is dead and another is fighting for life after a car mounted a kerb outside a popular fan convention with police confirming it was a group of young friends caught up in the tragedy.

Emergency services rushed to Melbourne Showgrounds in Ascot Vale just after 5pm on Saturday to reports of an incident outside the Supanova Comic Con and Gaming event.

Police said a blue Toyota Echo, believed to be a hire car, mounted the kerb on Langs Rd before hitting a group of young men.

One of the pedestrians tragically died at the scene.

The second pedestrian hit by the car was rushed to hospital with life-threatening injuries.

A third person was taken to hospital for trauma relating to the crash but did not suffer any physical injuries.

Detective Inspector Craig McEvoy said the trio were all young men, aged in their 20s.

They had been walking home from the Supanova Comic Con event when the incident occurred.

The car ploughed into a group outside the Melbourne Showgrounds.The car ploughed into a group outside the Melbourne Showgrounds. Credit: 7NEWS Victoria Police at the scene.Victoria Police at the scene. Credit: 7NEWS

A 33-year-old man from Werribee was taken from the Toyota and arrested at the scene by an off-duty police officer.

Det Insp McEvoy said the car had travelled a further 120 metres down the footpath after the young men were hit, eventually coming to a stop near an entry into the showgrounds.

“The vehicle has travelled a significant distance along the footpath, which is extremely odd,” Det Insp McEvoy said.

“The footpath is not in the same direction he was travelling.”

Police confirmed the driver was under police guard in hospital.

Det Insp McEvoy said the driver was “well-known to police”.

Detective Inspector Craig McEvoy from Victoria Police’s Major Collision Investigation Unit speaking at the scene.Detective Inspector Craig McEvoy from Victoria Police’s Major Collision Investigation Unit speaking at the scene. Credit: 7NEWS

Footage from the scene showed a pair of black shoes lying on the footpath following the crash.

Major Collision Investigation Unit detectives are now investigating the tragedy.

Marquees from the State Emergency Service were seen set up outside the venue shortly after the crash.

Supanova Comic Con and Gaming Convention is due to run all weekend at Melbourne Showgrounds and has booked appearances from Stranger Things actor Jamie Campbell Bower and Harry Potter actress Bonnie Wright among others.

“Supanova Comic Con & Gaming has been the welcoming home of Australia’s pop culture fandom since 2000; a place where fans inspired by imaginary worlds emanating from comics, sci-fi, fantasy, anime, gaming, nostalgia and literature have been able to come together to celebrate,” the event company’s website reads.

“A place to rejoice in cosplay (‘cos’tume role-‘play’) in expressing your inner geek, your inner child.”