Driver facing court over violent Melbourne CBD rampage

A Melbourne man will front court accused of driving his car on CBD footpaths and smashing into two banks, before crashing into the foyer of Crown Casino.

Burwood East man Chen Jie Xu allegedly struck three buildings on Swanston Street, including the ANZ and Commonwealth banks, while driving on the footpath in the morning of June 13.

Mr Xu's alleged wild driving came to an end when he crashed the Honda SUV through some glass doors at Crown Casino before stopping at the base of an escalator.

Police say the 34-year-old also drove down Lonsdale Street and Elizabeth Street, and once stopped to let a pedestrian cross.

Mr Xu is charged with criminal damage, endangering life, dangerous driving and a weapons offence.

He is due to face Melbourne Magistrates' Court today.

A homeless man was hailed a hero following the rampage, after he put himself in harm’s way to save pedestrians.

“He was going up towards Chinatown so I ran at him, then he turned the car around and I ran at him again and (made him) swerve into the bank… to stop him going onto the footpath,” Stuart Hicks recalled the day after the rampage.

“He would’ve been in Chinatown running people over if he didn’t crash into the bank … It was lucky, so lucky no one got run over.”

READ MORE: Homeless hero ran towards danger in Melbourne CBD car rampage

Bollards have recently been installed in the CBD, five months after the fatal Bourke Street rampage in which a car mowed through crowds in the mall, killing six people.