Police disciplined for failure to breath test Premier’s wife after 2013 car...

Police disciplined for failure to breath test Premier’s wife after 2013 car crash Melissa Cunningham

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Daniel Andrews With His Wife Catherine Photo : Penny Stephens
Daniel Andrews With His Wife Catherine Photo : Penny Stephens

Police disciplined for failure to breath test Premier’s wife after 2013 car crash

Two Victorian police officers have been disciplined because they did not breath test Premier Daniel Andrew’s wife following a car crash in which a teenage cyclist was injured almost five years ago.

Mr Andrews’ wife Catherine was driving a taxpayer-funded 4WD at Blairgowrie in the Mornington Peninsula in January, 2013 when 15-year-old Ryan Meuleman hit the side of the car, smashing the front windscreen.

Daniel Andrews With His Wife Catherine Photo : Penny Stephens
Daniel Andrews With His Wife Catherine Photo : Penny Stephens

Mr Andrews, opposition leader at the time, and his three young children were also in the car.

Ryan was flown to the Royal Children’s Hospital where he was operated on for internal bleeding – surgeons removed 10 per cent of his spleen. The teen also suffered a punctured lung, broken ribs and cuts.

No charges were ever laid.

Despite police protocol requiring all drivers in a collision be breath-tested within three hours of a crash, Mr Andrews’ wife did not undergo a preliminary breath test.

Police confirmed, on Monday, the two police officers who were at the scene of the crash were investigated by police Professional Standards Command for failing to adhere to police protocol.

“The two attending members failed to conduct a PBT (preliminary breath test) on the driver of the vehicle involved in the collision,” a Victoria Police spokesman said.

“Both members were administered Workplace Guidance and the matter has been finalised.”

Source : The Age