Questions raised over what happened in the ‘four missing minutes’ between the crash and Daniel Andrews calling triple-0

Daniel Andrews refused to be drawn on why he is resisting a Supreme Court order to hand over his mobile phone records from the day of a near-fatal 2013 car crash with a teenage cyclist.

Daniel Andrews has remained tightlipped on why he is resisting a Supreme Court order to hand over his mobile phone records from the day of a near-fatal 2013 car crash with a teenage cyclist.

Mr Andrews on Monday refused to comment on the matter saying it was before the courts.

“It would be thoroughly inappropriate for me to comment on your reporting or on the matter,” he told the Herald Sun.

Asked about his controversial King’s birthday honour and whether he had spoken to any of the victims of the Covid pandemic that were angry about the decision, Mr Andrews said: “I’ve put a statement out and I’ve got nothing further to add”.

Former Victorian premier Daniel Andrews had “nothing further to add” to questions about his King’s Birthday honour. Picture: Jade Gailberger

Mr Andrews remained tight-lipped on resisting a Supreme Court order. Picture: Jade Gailberger

Earlier, the Herald Sun revealed the former Victorian premier – who last week received the highest award in the King’s Birthday Honours – engaged high-profile lawyer Leon Zwier to fight the order.

He was slapped with a subpoena outside his Mulgrave home in March.

Lawyers for Ryan Meuleman, who was 15 when he was struck by the Andrews’ family SUV in Blairgowrie, are seeking to establish who Mr Andrews spoke to – and when – amid concerns of interference in the collision’s aftermath.

Ryan Meuleman was 15 when he was struck by the Andrews’ family SUV in Blairgowrie.

Ryan’s father Peter Meuleman said he could not understand why Mr Andrews would not simply comply with the court subpoena.

“What has he got to hide? He just received an Order of Australia – he’s meant to be exemplary – and yet he’s doing this,” he said.

The Meulemans said that Mr Zwier had argued the subpoena was a “fishing expedition”.

A hearing on the issue ­expected within weeks.

Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner Brett Curran, Mr Andrews’ chief of staff at the time of the incident, has declined to clarify if he received a call from the then-opposition leader from the crash scene.

Daniel Andrews’ SUV after the 2013 crash with Ryan Meuleman. Picture: Supplied

Police documents show Mr Andrews did not call triple-0 until 1.10pm on January 7, 2013.

The crash is estimated to have happened four minutes earlier, at 1.06pm.

Paramedics’ records reveal that a triple-0 operator had ­already notified Ambulance Victoria of the emergency at 1.08pm after being alerted by a call from a nearby resident.

Former Assistant Commissioner for Traffic and Operations Raymond Shuey estimated it would have taken up to a minute for the triple-0 operator to process the notification through to Ambulance Victoria.

Dr Shuey said there was likely to have been another minute’s lag between the crash and the call being made. So he estimated the collision probably happened at 1.06pm.

Ryan Meuleman after the near-fatal crash.

Dr Shuey, now an expert witness for the Meuleman family, asked: “What happened in those four missing minutes between the crash and Andrews’ call?”

In sworn statements to police, Mr Andrews and his wife Catherine, who was the driver, said he had “immediately” called triple-0 for an ambulance.

Mr Meuleman said: “A neighbour called the moment she heard the crash. So what was Andrews waiting for? What the hell was he doing in those four minutes?”

Mr Meuleman said the family had also obtained a statement from Ridley St resident Brad Morgan, who was in his front yard when the crash ­occurred, saying: “I heard the squeal of tyres then an ­almighty bang, followed by screams of pain.”

In sworn statements to police, Mr Andrews and his wife Catherine, who was the driver, said he had ‘immediately’ called triple-0 for an ambulance. Picture: David Caird

Ryan’s camp will argue “the squeal of tyres” is further evidence the SUV was travelling at speed, contradicting the ­Andrews’ claims they came to a “complete stop” and “turned right from a stationary ­position” just ­“moments” ­before the collision.

Mr and Ms Andrews have always maintained that their Ford Territory was “T-boned” by the bike, while Ryan insists the ­Andrews’ car was “speeding” and “seemed to come out of nowhere” when he was struck 17m on from the Melbourne Rd-Ridley St intersection.

Police photographs uncovered by the Herald Sun in November 2022 showed extensive damage to the front of the Andrews’ car and its windscreen.

In April last year, the Herald Sun revealed an Ambulance Victoria report detailed how the Andrews’ SUV “struck” Ryan while “travelling at 40 to 60km/h”.

Questions surrounding the police response to the crash have included why officers failed to use breathalysers and why they allowed Mr Andrews to drive the unroadworthy vehicle from the scene.

Mr Zwier, of top law firm Arnold Bloch Leibler, helped the Andrews government scrap the $1bn East West Link contract, and the 2026 Commonwealth Games at a $380m compensation cost to taxpayers.

Ryan’s lawyers are suing law firm Slater & Gordon, which acted for him after the crash, for failing to conduct “a full and proper investigation into the circumstances”.

A trial date has been set for May next year.

Senior Allan government Minister Lily D’Ambrosio on Monday said the crash had been “thoroughly investigated” and the case closed.

Asked whether the former Premier should comply with a Supreme Court order to hand over phone records from the day of the crash, Ms D’Ambrosio said: “I’m not going to get into court matters but what I can say to everybody is that whenever this pops up every now and then, the matter has been thoroughly investigated by all relevant authorities and there’s nothing more to be added”.

“I won’t be adding any more comments to it,” she said.