The 66-year-old woman was helping her husband from their Ford Territory to the entrance of Casey Hospital in Melbourne's southeast on Wednesday morning when Adam Barry allegedly snuck into their vacant car.
She tried to stop the 25-year-old, but he allegedly hit her with the car before driving off, leaving the woman in a critical condition.
The woman was rushed to the Alfred Hospital, where her condition has improved to serious, but stable.
Police arrested Barry on Wednesday afternoon in Pioneer Bay, more than 50km southeast of the scene, and the car was found nearby.
He was charged with theft of motor vehicle, dangerous driving causing serious injury, unlicensed driving, reckless conduct endanger life and failing to render assistance.
Barry appeared before Dandenong Magistrates Court on Thursday, slouched forward with his head down, where Magistrate Steven Raleigh remanded him in custody.
His defence lawyer revealed a list of injuries that would need to be treated by a prison nurse, including bleeding on his forehead, a cut to his right wrist and an injury to his left hand.
Local MP and Opposition Leader Brad Battin, who lives near the location of the alleged carjacking, described the event as "another violent incident at a hospital" in the city.
"We need to make sure that this kind of violence stops here in Victoria, and particularly at a place of healing," he said.Â
"We need to make sure that we stand up and stamp it out."
The accused driver will next appear before the court on May 12.
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