A woman has died after a Tesla crashed into a restaurant at Westfield Knox shopping centre in Melbourne’s east on Monday afternoon, August 24, 2026.
Emergency services were called to the shopping centre in Wantirna South at about 12:45 p.m. after reports that a vehicle had crashed into the front of a café on Burwood Highway.
Police said a female patron was seated outside the restaurant when the vehicle struck the dining area. She died at the scene. Her identity has not yet been formally released.
The vehicle involved has been identified in reports as a Tesla. The crash caused a major emergency response at the busy shopping centre, with police, ambulance and other emergency crews attending the scene.
Woman Killed in Westfield Knox Crash
According to Victoria Police, the woman who died was a patron at the restaurant. A second customer was assessed by paramedics at the scene but did not require the same level of emergency treatment.
The 51-year-old female driver of the Tesla and a passenger were taken to hospital with injuries that were described as non-life-threatening.
The crash left the restaurant and surrounding area temporarily closed while police established a crime scene and began investigating what happened.
The restaurant, Martini & Co, announced that it would remain closed until further notice following the tragedy.
What Happened at Westfield Knox?
The exact circumstances of the crash remain under investigation.
Reports indicate the Tesla was travelling near the shopping centre when it struck the woman before crashing into the restaurant. One local report said the vehicle allegedly failed to give way to a pedestrian before losing control, but that detail has not been established as an official finding and investigators are still examining the circumstances.
Victoria Police have specifically said they do not believe the incident was intentional. The Major Collision Investigation Unit is handling the investigation.
Investigators are expected to review CCTV footage from the shopping centre and surrounding roads, as well as speak with witnesses who were at the restaurant or shopping centre at the time.
Police have appealed for anyone who witnessed the crash or may have captured relevant footage to come forward.
Emergency Response and Investigation
The collision occurred during lunchtime at a busy shopping centre, meaning numerous shoppers and restaurant customers were nearby when the crash happened.
Witnesses described a significant emergency response, with multiple emergency vehicles arriving at the scene. The incident also caused disruption around the shopping centre as police secured the area and began their investigation.
Authorities have not indicated that the crash was connected to any broader threat at Westfield Knox.
The investigation will seek to establish why the Tesla left its intended path and struck the pedestrian and restaurant. Police have not announced any charges against the driver at this stage.
The victim’s family is now facing the sudden loss of a woman who had been spending time at the shopping centre when the fatal collision occurred.
The tragedy has also prompted concern among shoppers and local residents, particularly because the crash happened in an area where pedestrians and vehicles regularly move close together.
The Melbourne Tesla accident remains under investigation. A woman died after the vehicle crashed into the Martini & Co restaurant at Westfield Knox in Wantirna South, while the driver and passenger were taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Police do not believe the crash was deliberate, and detectives are continuing to establish exactly what happened.