A shocking investigation has revealed that police covered up details of Daniel Andrews’ car crash, which seriously injured a teenage cyclist, to “avoid implicating a politician”.
Ryan Meuleman was 15 years old and was cycling in Blairgowrie on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula when he was hit by the Andrews family’s SUV 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.
The former prime minister claimed his wife “came to a complete stop” and “turned right from a stationary position” just before Meuleman hit the Ford Territory.
Police closed the case without filing charges, and the officers were later cleared of any wrongdoing by the anti-corruption watchdog.
But more than a decade later, a shocking investigation into the crash concluded that the police investigation that supported the Andrews’ version of events was “deeply flawed.”
The 36-page review, conducted by the state’s former assistant commissioner of transportation and operations, Dr. Raymond Shuey, found that the SUV struck the teen while he was traveling “at a high rate of speed” and on the wrong side of the road.
“The statements by both Daniel and Catherine Andrews that their vehicle stopped on Melbourne Rd. are inconsistent with the effects of the impact, nor with (witness) Brad Morgan’s account of the squealing of the tires prior to impact,” Dr. Shuey wrote.
Ryan Meuleman was 15 years old and riding his bicycle in Blairgowrie on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula when he was struck by Andrews’ SUV on January 7, 2013.
‘The vehicle’s effective braking distance of 19.2 m after the impact is indicative of a speed of 45 km/h before the impact.
‘The version given by Catherine and Daniel Andrews is considered improbable and unbelievable. The truth is still unknown.
‘It is highly likely that the vehicle was taking a bend at high speed, cut the bend and was still travelling on the wrong side of the road on Ridley Street, 27 metres from Melbourne Road, when the collision occurred.’
The report, which was commissioned by Mr Meuleman’s lawyers as part of ongoing proceedings in the Supreme Court to claim damages in relation to the accident, shows that the “dissemination of a lie” began when police took down the driver’s name.
In a Traffic Incident System (TIS) report compiled by police hours after the crash, the driver’s name was listed as “Catherine Louie Kesik” – Mrs Andrews’ maiden name.
The report found that the name conflicted with the name contained in the investigation notes, the statements in the TAC reports and the police ‘contemporary notes’.
It was said the “irregularity” in Ms Andrews’ name would be a “marked” observation to regulators, insurers and legal reviewers.
“I believe this deception is part of a policy and part of an overt cover-up to prevent a political figure from being involved in a life-threatening crash,” Dr. Shuey wrote.
‘It is unforgivable that supervisors and reviewers do not signal this or do not ask for an explanation.’
Dr Shuey added that Victoria Police failed to demonstrate competent professional practice as they failed to conduct a “rudimentary examination” of the evidence during the investigation, which was reflected in their “hasty and illogical conclusion”.
The investigation revealed that the police file was missing important information, such as photographs, measurements and professional interrogation techniques.
According to Dr. Shuey, the researchers failed to consider the available evidence and called their conclusions “unfounded and unsubstantiated.”
He added that the “negligent approach” undermined the integrity of the investigation and also compromised the “pursuit of justice”.
Furthermore, the police have repeatedly refused to provide Mr Meuleman’s family with information about the driver, even though this is the police’s duty.
A shocking investigation claims details of Daniel and Catherine Andrews’ crash with the young cyclist were covered up ‘to avoid implicating a political figure’
Premier Daniel Andrews’ Ford Territory car after the crash with Ryan Meuleman. Police said Ms Andrews was behind the wheel at the time of the accident
According to Dr. Shuey, the decision not to provide the driver’s details to the family was “intended to conceal the identities of those involved.”
The question was also asked why Mr Andrews drove away in his car with a broken windshield.
“If the police do it, it is a dereliction of duty, if Daniel Andrews does it, it is destruction of evidence and in any event dangerous/reckless driving,” the report said.
They later changed the documents to state that no test had been carried out, as Mrs Andrews ‘did not smell of intoxicating liquor’.
The investigation revealed another significant omission, namely that the police failed to verify the identity of the driver of the government vehicle involved in the serious accident.
“Witness Jane Crittenden stated she saw Catherine Andrews sitting in the passenger seat after the crash,” it said.
“I believe this investigation is a deliberate omission. It … leaves the question of who was driving unresolved and in dispute,” the review said.
Shuey’s research was based on an analysis of FOI documents, witness statements and his own reconstruction of the incident.
Dr. Shuey died in August, just days after completing the report, from a health problem linked to Agent Orange from the Vietnam War.
The now adult Mr. Meuleman is suing the law firm Slater & Gordon, which represented him after the accident. The firm allegedly did not act in his best interests when negotiating an $80,000 settlement with the Transport Accident Commission.
Slater & Gordon denies the claims and will defend the lawsuit. The trial is scheduled for May 2025.
In July, Mr and Mrs Andrews were forced to hand over their phone and credit card details from the day of the crash under a High Court order.
Daily Mail Australia is not suggesting that Mr or Mrs Andrews engaged in any misconduct.
Victoria Police told Daily Mail Australia that a “thorough investigation” had been conducted and the findings were consistent.
“As 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 on this matter.”
