Five key claims in dispute in Daniel Andrew’s version of his Blairgowrie car crash

Daniel Andrews’ version of events surrounding an infamous car crash has once again been called into question. Here are the key claims in his story that are under a cloud.

Daniel Andrews is again under pressure over an infamous car crash that left a teen cyclist fighting for his life.

The crash, which happened on the Mornington Peninsula in 2013, has generated fresh claims that have been referred to the state’s corruption watchdog.

The injured cyclist, who almost died, has also engaged a lawyer to probe whether an $80,000 compensation payout from the Transport Accident Commission was appropriate.

Here are the key areas of dispute.

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Where was Dan before the accident?

Mr Andrews and his wife have always said they were returning to their holiday rental after a morning at “the beach” when the accident occurred as their Ford Territory, driven by Catherine Andrews, turned from Melbourne Rd into Ridley St at Blairgowrie.

The Herald Sun on Sunday revealed Jane Crittenden, a Portsea local who was first on the crash scene, has said Daniel and Catherine Andrews told her they had dined at a Mornington Peninsula sailing club prior to the crash.

Liberal MP Brad Battin and engineer Colin Robertson demonstrate the accident. Picture: Josie Hayden

That claim has now been referred to the corruption watchdog by the state opposition.

The Premier’s phone records from the day of the crash and a recording of his triple-0 call are also being subpoenaed as part of a Supreme Court damages action launched by injured cyclist Ryan Meuleman.

The Premier on Sunday was asked three times where he was before the accident but he refused to answer the questions.

“I have spoken about this extensively, I have nothing further to add,” Mr Andrews said.

“Nothing whatsoever.”

Who hit who?

Mr Meuleman, who spent 10 days in hospital following the accident, has said he was struck as he crossed Ridley St on his bike.

Mr Meuleman, who was 15 at the time of the accident, has claimed the Andrews’ car was speeding and “seemed to come out of nowhere” when he was hit.

He has told the Herald Sun he was wearing a helmet and riding slowly at the time.

Mr Robertson questioned whether the Andrews car came to a stop on Melbourne Rd. Picture: Josie Hayden

Mr Andrews has previously insisted it was Mr Meuleman’s bike that hit his family’s Ford Territory which was being driven by his wife.

“He was moving at speed, he absolutely T-boned the car, hit it at such force he was literally inside the car … he flew up over the car and hit the road,” Mr Andrews said in 2017.

Ms Andrews has previously said “it was the young cyclist’s fault — he hit our car”, adding she was “grateful that the police decided not to charge him”.

Shadow police minister Brad Battin held a joint press conference at the weekend with Colin Robertson, an industrial engineer and consultant to the Meuleman family’s legal team, where they presented modelling which they say debunks Mr Andrews’ version of events.

Mr Robertson said pictures of the damage to the front of the car – first revealed by the Herald Sun – show “the vehicle was not T-boned”.

“We believe that the car hit the cycle and then the cycle actually went under the car,” he said.

Did the car stop before turning on to Ridley St?

Mr Andrews has previously said his wife had “come to a complete stop” before turning into Ridley St.

At the weekend press conference, Mr Robertson presented a detailed cardboard model of the street, adjusting miniature cars and a plastic bike with a wooden figure to show he believed this could not be the case.

Mr Meuleman spent 10 days in hospital after the accident. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Mr Robertson noted a bombshell Ambulance Victoria report – again revealed by the Herald Sun – had found the car was travelling at 40-60km/h at the time of impact.

“We think the Andrews cut the corner – there’s tyre marks into Ridley St so it’s something that’s regularly done,” he said.

“At 80km an hour (on Melbourne Rd), they’ve slowed slightly and they’ve cut the corner into Ridley St. This explains why Ryan didn’t see them and they didn’t see Ryan.”

Where exactly did the accident take place?

Mr Andrews and Victoria Police have previously said the teen rider crossed Ridley St from a path near the corner of Melbourne Rd.

“There’s a bike track that runs parallel to the road we had turned off and it’s pretty well hidden by a tea tree,” Mr Andrews said in 2017.

But Mr Robertson believes Mr Andrews and the police have misreported where the young cyclist had come from, claiming the Premier and his wife were “three full car lengths” further down the street at the time of impact.

“Importantly the (police) diagram endorses the Andrews view of what happened,” he said.

“It actually can’t be there.

“The actual track is a sandy gravel track and it doesn’t cross Ridley St straight, it crosses at about 45 degrees.”

Why weren’t Dan and Catherine breath tested?

Police failed to use breathalysers at the scene and Mr Meuleman has said he never gave a police statement to detail his version of events.

In 2017, Victoria’s Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC) investigated the police’s response, including the failure to deploy a breathalyser in the aftermath of the crash.

Then-Victoria Police Commissioner Graham Ashton said the officers who did not breathalyse Mr Andrews’ wife simply “mucked up” at the busy scene.

IBAC clarified at the time that it was “not investigating the incident or the conduct of the Premier Mr Andrews, or any member of his family”.

Originally published as Five key claims in dispute in Daniel Andrew’s version of his Blairgowrie car crash