Former Loddon Shire Council mayor Gavan Holt has been charged with multiple offences after he allegedly fled the scene of a car crash in late October.
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Police confirmed a 65-year-old Wedderburn man had been charged this week with careless driving, failing to stop after an accident, failing to report an accident to police and failing to exchange names and addresses after an accident.
Cr Holt confirmed charges have been laid against him and the matter is with his solicitors.
“I have no further comment to make,” he said.
Cr Holt previously admitted to the Bendigo Advertiser he had “made a mistake” when he allegedly left the scene of the hit-and-run.
The charges stem from a car crash on the night of October 27.
Cr Holt was driving the mayoral car after a council meeting when he allegedly crashed into an old-model Mercedes Benz on the Wedderburn-Serpentine Road around 10pm.
It is alleged Cr Holt then left the scene, which is a criminal offence.
The other driver is then understood to have driven to a nearby farm for assistance.
The incident took place after a council council meeting where councillors had voted on the current mayor Neil Beattie as mayor-elect, but Cr Holt remained mayor until mid-November, when Cr Beattie was officially sworn in.
Loddon Shire Council CEO John McLinden said he would not speculate on the council’s procedures in relation to criminal charges.
The accused is due to appear before Bendigo Magistrates’ Court on January 14.
