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Charlie Stevens was celebrating schoolies with his mates when the unthinkable happened.
The 18-year-old youngest son of South Australia Police Commissioner Grant Stevens was allegedly run down in Goolwa Beach on Friday at 9pm.
Charlie’s injuries were serious and he was air-lifted to Flinders Medical Centre.
He tragically suffered an “irreversible brain injury” and on Saturday night, the young man passed away with his family by his side.
An 18-year-old Encounter Bay resident has been arrested and charged over the alleged hit-and-run, and The Adelaide Advertiser has named him as Dhirren Randhawa.
Randhawa will appear in Christies Beach Magistrates Court on Monday, facing charges of causing death by dangerous driving, aggravated driving without due care and leaving the scene of a serious crash and failing to answer questions truthfully.
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Charlie Stevens’ family and community mourn
Charlie’s mum Emma Stevens posted a tribute on Facebook, mourning her youngest child.
“Forever 18 my beautiful boy, going to miss you and love you forever,” she wrote.
His older brother Tom also posted about his “best mate”.
“My best mate, my biggest rival, my number one fan, my little brother Charlie,” he wrote on Instagram.
“It breaks my heart my days of being a big brother have come to an end.”
The grieving parents also shared a statement on Sunday night, thanking emergency services workers who tried to save Charlie’s life.
“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 a loved member of the AFL community, and his club shared the tragic news of his passing on Saturday.
“Charlie has always been an effervescent presence and a pleasure to coach, and well loved within and outside his team,” President Jordan Dodd of Goodwood Saints Football Club said on Facebook.
“Our love and thoughts are with Grant and Emma, children Sophie, Dylan, Josh and Tom and their family and friends throughout this extremely difficult time.
“No words could quantify the pain that you must be feeling, and the whole of the club is here alongside you.”
Before his death, Charlie had just begun training as an apprentice carpenter, a job which he “very much loved”.
Originally published as ‘Forever 18, my beautiful boy… I’ll love you always’
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