The father of the teenage cyclist who was hit by an SUV driven by Daniel Andrews’ wife has called for the case to be reopened after a shocking new report who alleged that the police had covered up the true circumstances of the accident.
Peter Meuleman, Ryan Meuleman’s father, said the new report “sheds a whole new light on what happened to his then 15-year-old son in 2013.”
Mr Andrews was state leader of the Labor Party and the opposition when the SUV he, his wife and their three children were travelling in struck the teenage cyclist near Blairgowrie, on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula, on January 7, 2013.
Former police chief Dr. Raymond Shuey’s investigation, commissioned by Meulemans’ lawyers, found that Andrews’ crash had been covered up “to prevent a politician from getting involved.”
Mr Meuleman said Dr Shuey’s report ‘conflicts with the police report about what happened and with Daniel and Catherine Andrews’ version of events’.
“We hope that Victoria Police will reopen the case and thoroughly re-examine the matter,” he told Melbourne radio station 3AW on Tuesday.
“The report really contradicts a lot of what was in the original police report. We don’t believe the initial police investigation was thorough.”
Although Mr Meuleman said that in the 13 years since the crash, “many old wounds have largely healed”, the family felt at the time that they “did not really get justice”.
Peter Meuleman (pictured in July) wants the investigation into the 2013 accident involving his son Ryan and the family of Dan Andrews to be reopened after a shocking new report
“We were dealt a bad hand,” said Mr. Meuleman.
“With the new evidence, the new witnesses and the new reports, we believe we can get more justice out of it.”
Mr Meuleman said Dr Shuey’s conclusions – that the SUV had hit the teenager while travelling “at a high rate of speed” and on the wrong side of the road – were “more consistent with Ryan’s injuries” and also with a report from Victoria’s Traffic Accident Commission (TAC).
Following the accident, Ryan was airlifted to the Royal Children’s Hospital with life-threatening injuries including a punctured lung, broken ribs, a ruptured spleen and internal bleeding.
According to Mr Meuleman, Ryan lost 90 percent of his spleen, but while many of the other injuries have now healed, the “most devastating and long-lasting effect” of the crash is the “mental trauma”.
“We’re just trying to protect him (Ryan) and help him move on with his life and live as normal a life as possible,” he said.
Mr Andrews has always maintained that his wife “came to a complete stop” and “turned right from a standstill” just before the teenager rammed the Ford Territory.
Police closed the case without filing charges. The officers were later cleared of any wrongdoing by the anti-corruption agency for failing to let the driver breathe.
Ryan was 15 years old and riding his bicycle in Blairgowrie on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula when he was struck by Andrews’ SUV on January 7, 2013
In his 36-page review of the investigation, Dr. Shuey concluded that the evidence did not support Mr. and Mrs. Andrews’ account of what happened.
“The statements by both Daniel and Catherine Andrews that their vehicle stopped on Melbourne Rd. are inconsistent with the effects of the impact, nor with (witness) Brad Morgan’s account of the squealing of the tires prior to impact,” Dr. Shuey wrote.
‘The vehicle’s effective braking distance of 19.2 m after the impact is indicative of a speed of 45 km/h before the impact.
‘The version given by Catherine and Daniel Andrews is considered improbable and unbelievable. The truth is still unknown.
‘It is highly likely that the vehicle was taking a bend at high speed, cut the bend and was still travelling on the wrong side of the road on Ridley Street, 27 metres from Melbourne Road, when the collision occurred.’
The report, which was prepared as part of ongoing High Court proceedings seeking damages in relation to the accident, found that the “dissemination of a lie” began when police took down the driver’s name.
In a Traffic Incident System (TIS) report compiled by police hours after the crash, the driver’s name was listed as “Catherine Louie Kesik” – Mrs Andrews’ maiden name.
The report found that the name conflicted with the name contained in the investigation notes, the statements in the TAC reports and the police ‘contemporary notes’.
Andrews’ Ford Territory car after the crash with Ryan Meuleman. Police said Mrs. Andrews was behind the wheel at the time of the accident
It was said the “irregularity” in Ms Andrews’ name would be a “marked” observation to regulators, insurers and legal reviewers.
“I believe this deception is part of a policy and part of an overt cover-up to prevent a political figure from being involved in a life-threatening crash,” Dr. Shuey wrote.
‘It is unforgivable that supervisors and reviewers do not signal this or do not ask for an explanation.’
Dr Shuey added that Victoria Police failed to demonstrate competent professional practice as they failed to conduct a “rudimentary examination” of the evidence during the investigation, which was reflected in their “hasty and illogical conclusion”.
The investigation revealed that the police file was missing important information, such as photographs, measurements and professional interrogation techniques.
According to Dr. Shuey, the researchers failed to consider the available evidence and called their conclusions “unfounded and unsubstantiated.”
He added that the “negligent approach” undermined the integrity of the investigation and also compromised the “pursuit of justice”.
Furthermore, the police have repeatedly refused to provide Mr Meuleman’s family with information about the driver, even though this is the police’s duty.
According to Dr. Shuey, the decision not to provide the driver’s details to the family was “intended to conceal the identities of those involved.”
The report also questioned why Mr Andrews decided to drive away with a broken windscreen.
Shocking investigation claims investigation into Daniel and Catherine Andrews’ crash with teenage cyclist was covered up ‘to avoid implicating political figure’
“If the police do it, it is a dereliction of duty. If Daniel Andrews does it, it is destruction of evidence and at the very least dangerous/reckless driving,” the report said.
They later changed the documents to state that no test had been carried out, as Mrs Andrews ‘did not smell of intoxicating liquor’.
The investigation found that police also made a significant omission by failing to verify the identity of the driver of the government vehicle involved in the accident.
“Witness Jane Crittenden stated she saw Catherine Andrews sitting in the passenger seat after the crash,” it said.
“I believe this investigation is a deliberate omission. It … leaves the question of who was driving unresolved and in dispute,” the review said.
Shuey’s research was based on an analysis of FOI documents, witness statements and his own reconstruction of the incident.
Dr. Shuey died in August, just days after completing the report, from a health problem linked to Agent Orange from the Vietnam War.
The now adult Mr. Meuleman is suing the law firm Slater & Gordon, which represented him after the accident. The firm allegedly did not act in his best interests when negotiating an $80,000 settlement with the Transport Accident Commission.
Slater & Gordon denies the claims and will defend the lawsuit. The trial is scheduled for May 2025.
In July, Mr and Mrs Andrews were forced to hand over their phone and credit card details from the day of the crash under a High Court order.
Daily Mail Australia is not suggesting that Mr or Mrs Andrews engaged in any misconduct.
Victoria Police told Daily Mail Australia that a “thorough investigation” had been conducted and the findings were consistent.
“As previously stated, Victoria Police conducted a thorough investigation into this matter, as did IBAC, and all findings were consistent,” Victoria Police said.
“We have no further comment on this matter.”
The Daily Mail has asked Victoria Police for further information.