AN ALLEGED drink-driver who crashed into a Moyne Health Services bus filled with elderly citizens on Thursday in Koroit has been remanded in custody.
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Aaron Mitchem, 32, of Cramer Street in Warrnambool, appeared in the Warrnambool Magistrates Court on Friday and was remanded in custody until July 11.
He did not apply for bail.
Mr Mitchem has been charged with theft of fuel, using an unregistered vehicle, beaching alcohol interlock conditions, drink-driving, committing an offence on bail, reckless conduct endangering serious injury, resisting an emergency worker, failing to stop after an accident and two counts of driving in a dangerous manner.
He was due to appear in the Werribee Magistrates Court on Monday in relation to five briefs of evidence but those charges are now likely to be transferred to the Warrnambool court.
Police allege that on Thursday at 9.15am, Mr Mitchem drove to a Raglan Parade service station in a silver Ford Focus, filled the vehicle with fuel worth $50 and left the premises without paying.
At 1.45pm police received a report Mr Mitchem ran a red light at the intersection of Raglan Parade and Morriss Road.
Half-an-hour later, Mr Mitchem is alleged to have lost control of his car in Merrivale Drive, mounted a kerb and narrowly missed a parked car with a person in the driver's seat.
Police allege that six minutes later, Mr Mitchem sideswiped a car which was turning from Raglan Parade onto the Drummond Street underpass.
Police allege that at 3pm, Mr Mitchem was driving in Koroit's Station Street and approached an intersection with Bourke Street.
He skidded to avoid a Moyne Health Services bus which was carrying nine elderly passengers, a nurse and the bus driver.
Mr Mitchem lost control and collided with the bus. The nurse received a minor injury.
An off-duty police officer witnessed the crash.
Mr Mitchem left the scene. The police officer later approached him and Mr Mitchem pushed him to the chest.
There was a struggle and two people helped the off-duty officer restrain Mr Mitchem until police arrived.
Police allege Mr Mitchem recorded a blood alcohol reading of .124.
He was remanded in custody overnight Thursday.