IBAC probe into Victoria Police’s response to Catherine Andrews crash

PREMIER Daniel Andrews has described how his children were screaming and covered in glass after a 2013 crash involving his wife. He says police phoned him after the crash to apologise for not breath testing his wife.

The Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission has requested files from Victoria Police relating to its response to a 2013 car crash involving Premier Daniel Andrews and wife Catherine. Digitally altered image

VICTORIAN Premier Daniel Andrews says a 2013 crash involving his wife was one of the most awful things he has ever seen.

Mr Andrews spoke this morning to answer all questions regarding the crash and insists his wife had no alcohol in her system when a young cyclist collided with her car on the Mornington Peninsula.

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Premier Daniel Andrews with his wife Catherine in 2014. Picture: Alex Coppel

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He described how his children were screaming after a young cyclist T-boned the side of the car shattering the windshield while the Andrews’ were on a family holiday.

“(It was) one of the most sickening, awful things I have ever experienced,” Mr Andrews said.

“The young man on a bike ploughs into the side of the car. If he’d have been driving a car and not riding a bike, you’d adequately describe it as he T-boned our car.

“He hits the side of the car then into the windshield.

“The windshield is completely depressed and he is almost in the car with us.

“There are three small children ... they are all screaming. They are distraught.

“(The cyclist) couldn’t move, he was in terrible pain. The kids are screaming and crying, they have glass fragments all over them.”

Mr Andrews said the family had a quiet night the night before and is confident his wife had no alcohol in her system.

“This was a family holiday at the beach and it is not our practice to be at the beach with three little kids drinking anything,” he said.

“We had the quietest of nights the night before.”

Catherine Andrews was not breath tested after the crash.

“In the days after this one of the police officers apologised to Catherine that they didn’t breath test her. We should have (been). I don’t know why it wasn’t done,” he said.

“We were absolutely focused on the young man, getting him the help he needed.”

Mr Andrews said neither he or his wife have any objection to documents relating to the crash being released.

He spoke after IBAC launched a probe into Victoria Police’s response following the crash.

The Herald Sun is not suggesting Ms Andrews or the Premier has done anything wrong.

An angry Mr Andrews said he was not driving the car when it crashed, but wishes he was.

Mr Andrews he said he does not believe there is anything to be gained by him speaking to the family of the boy.

Daniel Andrews meets staff on a tour of Monash Medical Centre in Moorabbin. Daniel Andrews with his wife Cath. Picture: Tim Carrafa.

He said police told him not to contact the boy’s family after the crash.

“I didn’t ask why but the last thing I was going to do as a public official to defy Victoria Police’s very clear advice to us,” Mr Andrews said.

The Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission yesterday asked police for files relating to the incident, in which a young boy was severely injured.

The police officers who responded to the call failed to breathalyse Mrs ­Andrews, the driver, at the scene, despite force protocols that they should do so. It emerged this week that those officers had been disciplined for that oversight.

But police have refused a media Freedom of Information request for the release of the official report of the incident, on the grounds that it was not in the public interest to do so.

Police chief commissioner Graham Ashton defended both the force’s decision to knock back the FOI request and the officers who failed to breath test Mrs Andrews.

He said each officers had thought the other had done the test at the chaotic crash scene.

“It was a scene that was a bit complex because there was significant injuries to the young fella,” Mr Ashton told 3AW.

“He had to get airlifted out, that had to be organised, there was traffic and everything else that had to be arranged and handled.

“In that busy scene, one thought the other had done it and it wasn’t done.

“IBAC, I think, indicated yesterday that they want to have a look at the documents.

“Obviously they oversight all of our internal investigations so they will get all that stuff and they can have a look as well.”

Mr Ashton added: “In relation to the FOI decision, it is a solid decision in accordance with the Act.”

Mrs Andrews was at the wheel of a taxpayer-funded car in Blairgowrie when it collided with the boy, on his bike, about 1.10pm on January 7, 2013.

Witness Brad Morgan said he rushed out from his Ridley St home after hearing the thud of the collision.

The teen had been thrown into the air, smashing the car’s windscreen and falling metres from his mangled bike.

“I saw him lying on the ground and ran back inside to get some blankets,” Mr Morgan said. “The driver just kept screaming ... She was totally hysterical.”

The boy was taken to the Royal Children’s Hospital, where he had surgery to stem internal bleeding.

He suffered a punctured lung, broken ribs and cuts.

The boy’s family have told media they were upset Mr and Mrs Andrews had not tried to contact them as he recovered.

Liberal MP Christine Fyffe yesterday sought to question Mr Andrews in parliament.

The Premier denied any cover-up or any interference with the FoI process, directing all questions to Victoria Police.

“As I have said, this was a traumatic incident for everybody involved and I again take the opportunity to wish the family all the very best for the future,” Mr Andrews said.

“I want to be very clear with you that in terms of the most recent coverage neither I nor anybody in my office had anything to do, or any involvement in that matter, and I have no further comment to make.”

Responding to allegations United Firefighters Union members could be involved, he said: “That is complete and utter nonsense”.

In a statement today IBAC said: “As part of its legislated functions, IBAC regularly reviews the handling of alleged misconduct by Victoria Police.

“IBAC is expecting a police investigation file relating to the conduct of police officers at the scene of a traffic accident involving the then Opposition Leader and his family in January 2013.

“IBAC will be reviewing the file in accordance with standard practice. IBAC is not investigating the incident or the conduct of the Premier, Mr Andrews, or any member of his family.”

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