Accident – Death – Obituary News :

Son of South Australia’s Police Commissioner in Critical Condition After Alleged Hit-and-Run Incident at Schoolies Festival

Charlie Stevens, an 18-year-old apprentice carpenter and the son of South Australia’s Police Commissioner Grant Stevens, is fighting for his life after being involved in a shocking hit-and-run incident during the Schoolies festival at Goolwa Beach. The incident occurred on Friday night when Charlie was struck by a car on Beach Rd at approximately 9pm.

The young teen sustained severe injuries and was immediately airlifted to Flinders Medical Centre, where medical professionals discovered that he had suffered an irreversible brain injury. Currently, Charlie is on life support, surrounded by his immediate family who are anxiously awaiting the arrival of other relatives from interstate.

Tragically, the driver of the car, an 18-year-old man from Encounter Bay, did not stop at the scene of the accident, leaving Charlie injured and in a critical condition. This heart-wrenching news was delivered by Deputy Commissioner Linda Williams, who fought back tears while disclosing Charlie’s identity to the media on Saturday morning, alongside Premier Peter Malinauskas.

“As you can imagine, this is a very difficult statement,” Deputy Commissioner Williams said. “We always talk about these incidents happening to other people, but the reality is that it can happen to anyone, any family, or anyone in the community. The sense of grief is always enormous.”

Premier Malinauskas expressed his solidarity with Commissioner Stevens and his family, stating, “Grant Stevens has dedicated himself to protecting others and serving South Australia as a member of the South Australian Police for over 14 years. It is truly heartbreaking that bad things happen to good people, and this incident is a clear example of that.”

The alleged hit-and-run driver was apprehended shortly after the incident when he was pulled over by the police on Port Elliot Rd. He has since been arrested and charged with several offenses, including causing harm by dangerous driving, aggravated driving without due care, leaving the scene of a serious crash, and failing to provide truthful answers during questioning.

The vehicle involved in the incident has been towed away for forensic examination, while Major Crash Investigators examine the scene, leading to the closure of the area on Saturday morning.

The 18-year-old driver is scheduled to appear in Christies Beach Magistrates Court on Monday, November 20, to face the charges brought against him.

Charlie Stevens, prior to the incident involving his son, had just begun his career as an apprentice carpenter, a job he had grown to love. This tragic event follows a day of devastation for the South Australia Police, with Commissioner Grant Stevens addressing the media earlier on Friday about the death of a police officer in the town of Senior.

Commissioner Stevens confirmed that Brevet Sergeant Jason Doig, aged 53, had tragically lost his life after being fatally shot in the line of duty while responding to an armed suspect at a rural property. Another police officer, Sergeant Michael Hutchinson, was also shot during the incident, along with the 26-year-old occupant identified as Jaydn Stimson.

This incident marks the first time in over two decades that a serving police officer has been killed in the line of duty in South Australia.

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