Young driver on the way to visit his newborn son before crash which killed veteran cop, court hears

A 21-year-old driver who allegedly hit and killed a veteran Victorian policeman on a memorial ride to commemorate fallen officers has been denied bail.

Jesse Reid is charged with culpable driving over the crash in Orbost on Friday afternoon.

Detective Senior Sergeant Victor Kostiuk, who had worked as a police officer for 40 years, died at the scene.

Latrobe Magistrates Court has today heard Mr Reid had allegedly smoked ice and drank beers on the morning of the crash, before getting behind the wheel.

The 59-year-old was part of the motorcade of 300 for the Wall To Wall ride, when a car allegedly veered across the road.

Channel 7 reporter Michael Scanlan crossed to Tom Elliott on 3AW Drive from Morwell and said Mr Reid was on the way to visit his newborn son, who had only been born a few hours beforehand.

He will appear again in court in January.

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