Goolwa Beach alleged hit-and-run: Teenager accused of hit-and-run that killed top cop’s son is identified

EXCLUSIVE

The teenage driver accused of killing the SA Police Commissioner’s son and then leaving him to die on the road has been identified – as this appears to be the family’s second loss in months.

Dhirren Randhawa, 18, allegedly hit Charlie Stevens, 18, with his car on Beach Road in Goolwa Beach, about 84km south of Adelaide, about 9pm on Friday.

Charlie, whose father is Police Chief Grant Stevens, was in the area celebrating school week with friends.

The teenager was flown to Flinders Medical Center where he was found to have suffered an ‘irreversible brain injury’ before sadly passing away at around 7pm on Saturday.

Randhawa, 18, from Encounter Bay, reportedly did not stop at the scene but was stopped by police a short distance away on Port Elliot Rd.

He was arrested and charged with causing harm by dangerous driving, aggravated driving without due care, leaving the scene of a serious accident and failing to actually answer questions.

Charlie Stevens (pictured) remembered as a ‘beautiful boy’ by devastated loved ones

Two of the charges have now been upgraded to causing death by dangerous driving and leaving the scene of an accident after causing death.

Ny Breaking Australia can reveal the teenager’s death comes just six months after his maternal aunt, Belinda Price, 48, died following a battle with pancreatic cancer.

Mrs Price was a much-loved member of the South Australian racing community, with her two sons, Charlie’s cousins ​​Ben and Will, both jockeys for the organisation.

At the time of her death, tributes poured in online as the racing fraternity and loved ones remembered her as a ‘loving and determined’ woman who was an ‘inspiration to all who knew and loved her’.

On May 21, Charlie’s mother Emma shared a photo on Instagram of her holding her sister’s hand during her final moments.

In the caption, she wrote, “Give daddy a hug for me.”

Now, just months later, tributes are pouring in for her nephew, who had just started as an apprentice carpenter after leaving school last year.

A family friend said Charlie would now be with his Aunt Belinda.

Charlie is pictured with his father, SA Police Commissioner Grant Stevens

Belinda Price, Charlie’s aunt, died in May after a battle with pancreatic cancer

Emma Stevens shared the above photo in May of her holding her sister’s hands as she passed away

“Rest easy, Charlie,” she wrote online.

“I’m sure Belsy will take care of you.”

Charlie’s mum Emma shared a heartbreaking post on Facebook, writing: ‘Forever 18 my beautiful boy, I will miss you and love you forever.’

His devastated older brother Tom said he would now be ‘young forever’.

“My best friend, my biggest rival, my biggest fan, my little brother Charlie,” he wrote on Instagram.

“It breaks my heart that my days as a big brother have come to an end, forever in our hearts, forever young and beautiful.”

The three-day school festival had just started on Friday evening when Charlie was allegedly beaten in Goolwa, near a bus station set up to take revelers to festivities in nearby Victor Harbour.

Witnesses recall hearing people screaming for “help” as his distraught friends tried to save his life.

Randhawa’s mother broke her silence on Saturday afternoon to express her condolences to the Stevens family.

“I extend my deepest condolences to the Stevens family and my heart breaks to think of the suffering and pain they are experiencing,” she said in a statement.

“Out of respect and recognizing that this is now a matter for the courts, I will not comment further at this time.”

Charlie Stevens, 18, was in Goolwa Beach celebrating schoolboys on Friday when he was reportedly hit by a car on Beach Rd about 9pm

Charlie was flown to hospital in a serious condition after the collision. Image: 7 NEWS

Floral tributes have begun to gather at the site of the alleged crash as mourners pay their respects to the teenager, who was the youngest of five children.

Ny Breaking Australia understands Commissioner Stevens will take an indefinite leave of absence to be with his family as they grieve.

In a family statement shared by SA Police on Sunday evening, Commissioner Stevens and Ms Stevens thanked the police, first responders and other responders who attended the incident.

“The Stevens family would also like to thank the wider community for their support at this difficult time. “In particular, the family acknowledges the dedicated staff at Flinders Medical Center for their care and support of Charlie and his family and friends.”

Randhawa is due to appear at Christie’s Beach Magistrates Court on Monday.