The 18-year-old son of the SA Police Commissioner has died after suffering irreversible brain injuries when he was allegedly hit by a car during a school function.
Charlie Stevens, 18, was in Goolwa Beach celebrating schoolboys on Friday when he was hit by a car on Beach Rd about 9pm.
The teenager, whose father is Police Commissioner Grant Stevens, suffered serious injuries and was flown to Flinders Medical Center where he was found to have suffered ‘irreversible brain damage’.
His family rushed from across the country to be by his side in his final moments and confirmed he had died shortly before 9pm on Saturday.
“Commissioner Grant Stevens and his wife Emma would like to thank all SAPOL staff, first responders and other responders who attended the incident,” the family said in a statement shared by SA Police.
Charlie Stevens, 18, was in Goolwa Beach celebrating schoolboys on Friday when he was hit by a car on Beach Rd about 9pm (he is pictured with dad Grant Stevens)
His family rushed from across the country to be by his side during his final moments and confirmed his death shortly before 9pm on Saturday (pictured, Goolwa Beach)
The Stevens family would also like to thank the wider community for their support during 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.”
The driver of the car, an 18-year-old man from Encounter Bay, did not stop at the scene.
The president of Goodwood Saints Football Club, where Mr Stevens is a much-loved member of the AFL community, sent a message to club members to share the ‘tragic’ news.
“Charlie has always been a vibrant presence and a joy to coach, and well-liked on and off his team,” president Jordan Dodd said in a Facebook post Saturday evening.
‘Our love and thoughts are with Grant and Emma, children Sophie, Dylan, Josh and Tom and their family and friends at this extremely difficult time.
‘No words can quantify the pain you must be feeling, and the whole club is here with you.
Mental health support programs have been made available to players and families in the coming days, especially boys under the age of 17.5 and their families.
The driver of the car, an 18-year-old man from Encounter Bay, failed to stop at the scene and was subsequently charged with causing damage by, among other things, dangerous driving (Police Commissioner Grant Stevens is pictured).
Deputy Commissioner Linda Williams broke down in tears as she, along with the Prime Minister, revealed Charlie’s identity to the media on Saturday morning.
“As you can imagine, this is a very difficult statement,” she said.
‘We always talk about this happening to other people, but the reality is it can happen to anyone, any family or anyone in the community.
‘The feeling of sadness is always enormous.’
Premier Peter Malinauskas said he and the South Australian community stood behind Commissioner Stevens and his family.
“Grant Stevens served in South Australia for over 14 years as a member of the South Australian Police,” he said.
“Throughout his life he dedicated himself to protecting others and protecting South Australians from harm….”
“We often desperately wish that bad things wouldn’t happen to good people, but they do, and this is a clear example of that.”
The 18-year-old driver was stopped by police a short distance from the scene of the collision on Port Elliot Rd.
Charlie was flown to hospital in a serious condition after the collision (pictured)
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.
His vehicle was towed and will undergo forensic examination, while the area remained closed on Saturday morning as it was examined by Major Crash Investigators.
The driver will appear at Christies Beach Magistrates Court on Monday, November 20.
Charlie Stevens had just started as an apprentice carpenter, a job he “dearly loved.”
This comes after Commissioner Stevens spoke extensively to the media about the death of a police officer in the city of Senior on Friday, prior to the incident involving his son.
In what he called a “devastating day for South Australia Police”, Commissioner Stevens confirmed that 53-year-old Brevet Sergeant Jason Doig was fatally shot after visiting a rural estate where he was confronted by an armed suspect.
Another police officer, Sergeant Michael Hutchinson, was also shot, as was the 26-year-old resident later identified as Jaydn Stimson.
It was the first time in more than two decades that an on-duty police officer was killed while on duty in the state.