South Police Commissioner Grant Stevens has penned an emotional letter to his youngest son Charlie who died after suffering an irreversible brain injury when he was allegedly hit by a car on Schoolies.
‘I am writing this sitting in a bedroom with dirty clothes on the floor, an unmade bed, six drinking glasses lined up on the bedside table, an empty KFC box next to the glasses, wardrobe doors left open and a row of skateboards leaning on the wall – it is a mess and it’s perfect. This is where 101 lived,’ he wrote.
101 refers to the 101st life lost on South n roads this year.
‘101 is Charles Stevens – Charlie, Charlie Boy, Chas, Links, Steve. You lived life and gave so much to so many. You were a force of nature and we will never forget your beautiful cheeky, disarming smile,’ Commissioner Stevens said.
‘Son, brother, grandson, uncle, nephew, cousin, friends, workmate, teammate. So much more than just a number on a tragic tally.’
Charlie Stevens, 18, was with friends waiting for a bus to head to Schoolies celebrations in Victor Harbor when he was allegedly struck by Dhirren Randhawa, also 18, in Goolwa, south of Adelaide, about 9pm on Friday.
Mr Stevens died 22 hours later in hospital, while Mr Randhawa was arrested a short time later on a nearby street after allegedly fleeing the scene.
Randhawa was later charged with causing death by dangerous driving, aggravated driving without due care, leaving the scene of a crash after causing death and failing to truly answer questions.
South Police Commissioner Grant Stevens has penned an emotional letter to his youngest son Charlie who died after suffering an irreversible brain injury when he was allegedly hit by a car on Schoolies
His father said he was the kid who would look after others, befriend the lonely and always check in on his mates
The heartfelt letter described Charlie as ‘cheeky, intense and funny’ and a ‘loveable ratbag from the moment he could talk’.
His father said he was the kid who would look after others, befriend the lonely and always check in on his mates.
‘101 had a circle of friends the rest of us could only dream about,’ Commissioner Stevens wrote.
‘He loved his mates and they loved him. Living with him meant waking up on weekends to four or five extra bodies in spare beds and on couches.’