Fresh allegations have reignited a decade-old controversy surrounding a serious road collision involving former Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews and his wife, Catherine. The incident, which left a teenage cyclist with life-altering injuries, is now the subject of a renewed push for a formal police investigation.
New Evidence Brief Prepared for Police Chief
Former police officer Scott Hanley has informed the Daily Mail that he has prepared a comprehensive brief of evidence on behalf of Ryan Meuleman, the cyclist injured in the crash. Mr Hanley plans to present this dossier to Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Mike Bush in a meeting scheduled within the next two to three weeks.
The evidence will then be referred to the Office of Public Prosecutions to determine if any charges should be laid. "The brief of evidence is ready to go," Mr Hanley stated. "We'll be formally asking the Commissioner to commence an investigation – because one was never properly opened in the first place."
The 2013 Blairgowrie Collision and Its Aftermath
The collision occurred on January 7, 2013, in the Mornington Peninsula town of Blairgowrie. Ryan Meuleman, then aged 15, was cycling when he collided with a Ford Territory driven by Catherine Andrews. Daniel Andrews, then Opposition Leader, and the couple's three children were passengers in the vehicle.
The teenager suffered catastrophic injuries, including a punctured lung, broken ribs, and internal bleeding, requiring an airlift to hospital. He later lost most of his spleen.
Mr Andrews has previously stated that the car had stopped and was moving slowly when it was struck. He described the cyclist "moving at speed," resulting in a significant impact that left the teenager inside the car's depressed windscreen before he was thrown onto the road.
Allegations of Police Failures and Procedural Irregularities
Despite being cleared by The Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC) in December 2017, the police handling of the case has faced persistent scrutiny. Scott Hanley, who acted as a private investigator for the Meuleman family for over two and a half years, alleges at least 35 procedural failures.
He claims officers failed to interview Mr Meuleman or key witnesses, did not properly examine the vehicle, and allowed the investigation to lapse. Notably, in 2017, it emerged that two junior officers who attended the crash both failed to breathalyse Catherine Andrews, each assuming the other had done so.
Mr Hanley's connection to the case adds weight to his claims. He was initially dispatched to the crash scene while on duty in Sorrento but was ordered to stand down over police radio before arriving, with the job reassigned to officers from Rye Police Station. "It was highly unusual and a bit weird. I was the closest crew to the scene," he told the Herald Sun.
He has also alleged that Mr Andrews delayed calling emergency services for more than six minutes and that the damaged SUV was moved from the scene – claims the former premier has denied.
Ongoing Legal Battles and Health Impacts
The renewed focus on the crash follows revelations that Mr Andrews and his wife missed a Federal Court deadline to file a defence in a separate defamation case brought by Ryan Meuleman. The defamation claim relates to a September 2024 media statement from the couple which described an independent review of the crash as "appalling conspiracy theories."
Mr Meuleman alleges this led to him being subjected to online abuse and labelled a 'grifter'. The Andrews deny defaming him and rejected a proposal for a $50,000 compensation payment and apology.
According to court documents, Ryan Meuleman, now 27, continues to suffer chronic pain and significant symptoms of depression, anxiety, and trauma. His father confirmed this week that his son checked into a Victorian treatment centre last month.
An independent review by senior Victoria Police traffic expert Dr Raymond Shuey, prepared for a since-settled Supreme Court action, previously contradicted the Andrews' account of the crash. Mr Andrews dismissed that report at the time.
With statutes of limitation looming, Scott Hanley warns that time is critical for any potential new action. "There could be people trying to protect their careers," he alleged. "Senior police are on government contracts, do you really want to rock the boat and lose your job?"
A Victoria Police spokesperson maintained that "Victoria Police conducted a comprehensive investigation into this matter, as did IBAC, and all findings were consistent."
