Court orders Dan Andrews to hand over documents relating to Blairgowrie teen cyclist crash
A court has ordered the former premier to share phone and credit card records relating to the 2013 Blairgowrie car crash with a teen cyclist.
Victoria
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Daniel Andrews has been ordered to hand over his personal telephone and credit card records relating to a Blairgowrie car crash involving a teenage cyclist.
The former premier was personally served with a Supreme Court subpoena outside his Mulgrave home last week.
The subpoena requires Mr Andrews to produce a series of documents relating to the day Ryan Meuleman – then 15 – was struck by the Andrews’ family car in January 2013.
It can be revealed Mr Andrews has engaged Arnold Bloch Leibler to represent him in the case – the same law firm his former government used to broker a massive taxpayer-funded compensation deal over the shock cancellation of the Commonwealth Games.
ABL is also acting for the former premier’s wife, Catherine Andrews, who was driving at the time of the crash.
ABL was approached for comment about the subpoena but did not respond.
The phone records will be relied upon as part of a damages action launched by Ryan’s lawyers to ascertain who Mr Andrews called in the aftermath of the near-fatal crash, including whether he spoke to his then chief of staff – current Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner Brett Curran.
Mr Curran has declined to clarify if he received a call from Mr Andrews from the scene of the smash.
Victoria Police, the Traffic Accident Commission, state treasury office and the triple-0 operator have also been slapped with subpoenas.
Ryan’s legal team accused law firm Slater & Gordon, which acted for him in the aftermath of the crash, of failing to conduct “a full and proper investigation into the circumstances” of the collision.
The Labor-aligned practice is accused of failing to act in Ryan’s best interests and breaching its duty of care and obligations to him when negotiating his $80,000 TAC compensation payout.
Mr and Mrs Andrews have always maintained Ryan’s bike “T-boned” their Ford Territory, while Ryan insists the Andrews’ car was “speeding” and “seemed to come out of nowhere” when he was struck 17m from the Melbourne Rd and Ridley St corner.
Secret police photographs uncovered by the Herald Sun in November 2022 supported Ryan’s claims, revealing extensive damage to the front of the car and its windscreen.
In April last year, the Herald Sun revealed an Ambulance Victoria report detailed the car “struck” Ryan while “travelling at 40 to 60km/h”.
The “Patient Care Report” – made by paramedics who attended the crash and buried for a decade – was at odds with the Andrews’ claims they came to a “complete stop” and “turned right from a stationary position” just “moments” before the collision.
Police failed to use breathalysers at the scene.
Questions have been raised about why Mr Andrews removed the car from the scene before crucial evidence could be gathered, prompting calls by a former Victorian crown prosecutor for a fresh review of the case.
Dr Raymond Shuey – the state’s former assistant commissioner for traffic and operations who says the Victoria Police investigation failed to meet 12 “critical” standards – has been engaged by Ryan’s lawyers as an expert witness.
Former chief commissioner Kel Glare has also said he does not believe “proper procedure” was followed.
Claims Mr Andrews told a witness his family had been having lunch at the “sailing club” prior to the crash have also been referred to Victoria’s anti-corruption commission. The Andrews say they were returning to their holiday rental after a visit to the beach.
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