Suspected killer driver, 26, is charged with murder over fatal Bourke Street crash – chilling photo shows him sitting on the roof of his wrecked car as his mother speaks out

A motorist has been charged with murder and attempted murder after he allegedly killed an elderly motorist and injured several others as he plowed into cars and a crowd of pedestrians in Melbourne’s central business district.

Zain Khan, 26, was charged on Saturday evening with one count of murder, three counts of attempted murder, three counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent and two counts of conduct endangering life.

He allegedly drove his mother’s white Toyota sedan down Bourke Street and into a crowd of pedestrians before colliding with two other vehicles at around 6.20pm on Friday.

Victoria Police charged Khan speeding after he allegedly mowed down three pedestrians at a tram stop on the corner of Bourke Street and Swanston Street.

A 76-year-old Brunswick man who was driving a Hyundai died at the scene.

Two people, aged 30 and 37, from Diggers Rest, who were traveling in a gray Mazda, were taken to hospital with minor injuries.

Three pedestrians – a 26-year-old man from South Yarra, a 23-year-old woman from China and a 35-year-old woman from Docklands – were also injured.

Eerie footage shows Khan, dressed all in white, sitting on the roof of the Toyota for several minutes before police officers pulled him down and arrested him.

Zain Khan, 26, has been charged with one count of murder, three counts of attempted murder, three counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent and two counts of conduct endangering life in connection with the mayhem on Bourke Street on Friday. accused

Eerie footage shows Khan, dressed all in white, sitting on the roof of the Toyota for several minutes before police pulled him down and arrested him (pictured)

Khan allegedly drove his mother’s white Toyota sedan through a tram stop and into a crowd of pedestrians before colliding with two other vehicles at around 6.20pm

Victoria Police have alleged Khan sped the car after he allegedly mowed down three pedestrians at a tram stop on the corner of Bourke Street and Swanston Street

It is understood his comments, made in the minutes after the three cars collided, were recorded on their body-worn cameras.

Chief Commissioner Shane Patton said this footage was important in determining whether his actions behind the wheel were intentional.

Khan was held under police guard at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, where police delayed questioning for at least 24 hours because of mental health concerns.

In an after-hours hearing on Saturday evening, the 26-year-old was remanded in custody to appear next in MElbourne Magistrates’ Court on January 15, 2024.

Police confirmed that Khan was known to suffer from mental illness and ruled out terrorism as a possible motive.

The white Toyota Aurion at the center of the tragedy belonged to his mother, it is said Commissioner Patton.

He said there had been no reports of Khan driving erratically before the incident and confirmed he had no previous convictions.

“He has no criminal record. He’s not on bail. “He is effectively a ‘clean skin’, a term Victoria Police uses for someone who has not come into contact with police,” he said.

“The only record we have on this man is that he was previously reported missing and we worked with him regarding a psychiatric transfer in 2020.”

Commissioner Patton said it was likely to bring back memories of a strikingly similar incident that occurred on Bourke Street in 2017, in which six people were killed.

“We will be conducting security patrols in the city today to ensure the public can feel reassured. Melbourne is an extremely safe city,” he said.

Khan’s mother revealed that her son had been struggling with his mental health since 2017 and had been packing a bag before the incident.

“He’s very sad…he’s sick.” “He has a mental health history and a mental illness problem since 2017,” she told 7News.

‘It is difficult. I thought, you know what he did, I heard he hurt people, I was shocked at that part.”

In footage from the scene, people can be heard screaming while others administer first aid to the injured as police, paramedics and firefighters arrive in droves

The incident happened on the corner of Bourke Street and Russell Street on Friday evening

Victoria Police have alleged Khan sped the car after he allegedly mowed down three pedestrians at a tram stop on the corner of Bourke Street and Swanston Street

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews thanked bystanders who came to the aid of the injured drivers, passengers and pedestrians

Graphic videos taken at the scene on Friday show pedestrians frantically tending to two people outside a McDonald’s after they were run over.

People can be heard screaming while others administer first aid to the injured, while police officers, paramedics and firefighters swarm the scene.

Bourke Street remained closed on Friday evening until tow trucks could remove the wrecked cars from the scene.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews thanked bystanders who came to the aid of the injured drivers, passengers and pedestrians.

“I wanted to thank, on behalf of all Victorians, the police officers who very quickly and with great courage carried out the most important work to secure the scene and take the suspect into custody,” Mr Andrews said on Saturday.

“And finally, I would like to thank the many, many Victorians who were and remained on site, extending their hand of friendship and love to support and help the (injured) people.”

Six people died and 27 were injured when James Gargasoulas crashed into them after driving into Bourke Street Mall in 2017. However, Friday night’s accident is not believed to be related to this incident.