Police draw weapons after vehicle hits pedestrian near Melbourne Marathon

A vehicle has struck a pedestrian near the route of the Melbourne Marathon in Australia, prompting police to draw their weapons. According to the Daily Mail and the Herald Sun, the incident happened near Flinders Street Station when a driver sped towards a crowd. Witnesses reported that the vehicle hit a woman before the driver made a U-turn and sped away from the scene. [1][3]

Emergency services were called to the location at 11am, an Ambulance Victoria spokesperson told the ABC. One person was taken to Royal Melbourne Hospital following the collision, according to the Daily Mail. A witness at the scene reported that a young boy was standing just metres away when the event took place. [1]

The incident occurred close to the race course for the annual event. Dual Olympic champion Eliud Kipchoge won the main marathon, setting a new race record of two hours, nine minutes, and ten seconds, ABC News Australia and CBC reported. Thomas Do Canto and Reece Edwards finished behind Kipchoge in the men's event, while Camille French won the women's race. [1][2][5]

The Melbourne Marathon starts on Batman Avenue and finishes at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The course passes local landmarks including Flinders Street Station, the Shrine of Remembrance, Albert Park Lake, and the St Kilda foreshore. [7][9]