Dan Andrews and his wife have slammed a report by a former police commissioner as ‘appalling conspiracy theories’ after it questioned their version of events over a car crash that severely injured a teen cyclist.
Mr Andrews was the Victorian opposition leader when the SUV he, his wife and their three children were travelling in collided with Ryan Meuleman, 15, near Blairgowrie, on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula, on January 7, 2013.
M Andrews insisted his wife, who was driving at the time of the crash, came to a ‘complete stop’ and ‘turned right from a stationary position’ moments before Mr Meuleman T-boned the Ford Territory.
However, a bombshell review, conducted by the state’s former Assistant Commissioner for Traffic Operations Dr Raymond Shuey, asserted the SUV struck the teen after ‘travelling at speed’ and on the wrong side of the road.
Police closed the case without pressing charges, and officers were later cleared of any wrongdoing by the corruption watchdog.
The 36-page review, commissioned by Meuleman’s lawyers as part of an ongoing court case, claimed the investigation was ‘deeply flawed’ and the Andrews’ crash was covered up ‘to avoid implicating a political figure in a life-threatening crash’.
Mr Andrews and his wife issued a joint statement in response to the report, which was first published on Tuesday by the Herald Sun.
The couple blasted the outlet for publishing ‘conspiracy theories dressed up as journalism’ and claimed they ‘did nothing wrong’.
Former premier Dan Andrews and his wife have slammed a report into their car crash which injured a teen cyclist as ‘appalling conspiracy theories’. He is pictured with wife Catherine
‘This so-called report was commissioned by lawyers on behalf of their clients who are seeking money through the courts by suing their former lawyers,’ the couple wrote.
‘We are not a party to this legal action. We did nothing wrong. This matter has already been comprehensively and independently investigated and closed by Victoria Police and integrity agencies.
‘We will not dignify these appalling conspiracy theories by commenting further at this time.’
A now-adult Mr Meuleman is suing law firm Slater & Gordon, which represented him after the crash, for allegedly failing to act in his best interest when it negotiated an $80,000 compensation settlement with the Transport Accident Commission.
The Supreme Court damages proceedings into the crash is due to be heard in May 2025.
The report could potentially be presented to the court, however it is unclear whether the judge will give the findings much weight as Dr Shuey died in August – just days after completing the report – and can no longer be cross-examined.
In his report, Dr Shuey asserts the Andrews’ SUV could not have come to a complete stop before turning onto Ridley street due to the distance Mr Meuleman was thrown from the car.
‘The statements from both Daniel and Catherine Andrews that their vehicle stopped at Melbourne Rd are not consistent with impact consequences, nor the report by (witness) Brad Morgan of the squeal of tyres prior to impact,’ Dr Shuey wrote.
‘The effective vehicle stopping distance of 19.2m following impact is indicative of a speed of 45km/h prior to impact.
‘The version as provided by Catherine and Daniel Andrews is considered improbable and implausible. The truth is still outstanding.
‘It is most probable that the vehicle undertook a sweep turn at speed, cutting the corner and still on the incorrect side of the roadway in Ridley Street, 27 metres from Melbourne Road when the collision occurred.
‘It was definitely not a low-speed vehicle impact’.
Ryan Meuleman was 15-years-old and riding his bike when he was struck by the Andrews’ family SUV being driven by Catherine Andrews on January 7, 2013
Mr Meuleman was airlifted to The Royal Children’s Hospital with life-threatening injuries including a punctured lung, broken ribs, a ruptured spleen and internal bleeding.
Dr Shuey also took issue with Victoria Police investigators claiming they did not show a competent professional practice as they failed to follow a ‘rudimentary examination’ of evidence, demonstrated in their ‘hasty and illogical conclusion’.
He claimed the ‘propagation of a lie’ started when police recorded the driver’s name.
In a Traffic Incident System (TIS) report made by police hours after the crash recorded the driver’s name as ‘Catherine Louie Kesik’ – Mrs Andrews’ maiden name.
The report found the name was contrary to that recorded in the investigation notes, TAC reports statements and ‘contemporaneous notes’ made by police.
It asserted that the ‘irregularity’ with Mrs Andrews’ name would be a ‘standout’ for supervisors, insurance, and legal reviewers.
‘It is my opinion that this deception is part of a course of conduct and a component of an overt cover-up to avoid implicating a political figure in a life-threatening crash,’ Dr Shuey wrote.
‘Failure by supervisors and reviewers to identify this or seek explanation is inexcusable.’
The review explained the police report lacked critical information including photographs, measurements and professional interview techniques.
Dr Shuey said investigators failed to account for the available evidence and labelled their conclusion as ‘baseless and unsupported’.
The report, commissioned by Meuleman’s lawyers as part of an ongoing case, asserted Andrews’ version of events were ‘improbable and implausible’. (pictured, Ford Territory car after the crash)
He added the ‘negligent approach’ undermined the integrity of the investigation and also jeopardised the ‘pursuit of justice’.
Police also repeatedly refused to provide Mr Meuleman’s family with details of the driver, despite it being the duty of police to do so.
Dr Shuey also noted that officers failed to breathalyse those at the scene – which is a breach of standard operating procedures.
The Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission cleared police of any wrongdoing in December 2017.
Victoria Police told Daily Mail Australia a ‘thorough investigation’ was conducted and its findings were consistent.
‘As has been previously stated, Victoria Police conducted a thorough investigation into this matter, as did IBAC, and all findings were consistent,’ Victoria Police said.
‘We have no further comment to provide on the matter.’
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