Following an alleged hit-run accident, the youngest son of South Australia Police Commissioner Grant Stevens passed away due to an irreversible brain injury.
Charlie Stevens was attending an end-of-school celebration on Friday night when he was allegedly hit by a car at 9 p.m. on Beach Road at Goolwa Beach, which is approximately 67 kilometres south of Adelaide.
After being transported by air to Flinders Medical Centre, the 18-year-old passed away on Saturday night at 7:01 p.m. (local time) in the company of his loved ones, according to South African Police.
“Commissioner Grant Stevens and wife Emma would like to thank all SAPOL staff, first responders and other emergency services workers who attended the incident,” the couple stated in a statement.
“The Stevens family also wish to thank the wider community for their support during this difficult time in particular the family acknowledge the dedicated staff at the Flinders Medical Centre for their care and support of Charlie and his family and friends.”
Charlie was the youngest of the police commissioner’s five children, born to him and his wife Emma.
The police commissioner intends to spend as much time as possible with his family.
Earlier on Saturday, Charlie’s mother posted a message for her son on social media, writing, “Forever 18, my beautiful boy.”I will always love and miss you.”
According to police, the vehicle that was allegedly involved in the collision did not stop and was subsequently stopped by officers on Port Elliot Road near Goolwa.
An further 18-year-old guy from Encounter Bay was accused of fleeing the scene of a serious accident, aggravating driving without necessary care, and not providing a thorough response to inquiries.
On Saturday afternoon, the mother of the 18-year-old who is being charged made a statement. “I extend my deepest possible sympathies to the Stevens family and my heart is breaking to think of the suffering and pain they are experiencing,” she stated.
“Out of respect and acknowledging that this is now a matter for the courts, I won’t be saying anything further at this time.” As soon as locals in Goolwa Beach learned of the tragedy on Saturday, floral tributes sprouted at the scene.
About ten minutes after the collision, a witness claimed to have heard a man screaming for assistance.
“I just assumed they had a bit of an argument going on,” he explained. “Next minute I heard ‘help, I can’t feel a pulse, I can’t feel a pulse’.”
The situation on Friday night was described as “frantic” by another witness to the incident. “I was really feeling for his mate that were across the road, they were just distraught,” Gemma said.
In the meantime, Janine Hyde, a resident of Goolwa, called the situation “very, very sad”.
“I feel very sorry for all of the families involved in this situation,” Hyde stated.
The 18-year-old man will remain in detention until he makes his initial appearance in the Christies Beach Magistrates’ Court on Monday after being denied police bail.
Beach Road was closed on Saturday night, according to police, while major crash investigators looked over the site and a car was hauled away for forensic analysis.
