The devastated police commissioner breaks his silence in an emotional letter – after his son died in an alleged hit-and-run during Schoolies

South Australian Police Commissioner Grant Stevens has written an emotional letter to his youngest son Charlie, who died from an irreversible brain injury when he was allegedly hit by a car on Schoolies Street.

“I’m writing this while sitting in a bedroom with dirty clothes on the floor, an unmade bed, six drinking glasses lined up on the nightstand, an empty KFC box next to the glasses, closet doors open and a row of skateboards propped on them.” The wall – it’s a mess and it’s perfect. “This is where 101 lived,” he wrote.

101 refers to the 101st fatality on South Australia’s 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,” said Commissioner Stevens.

“Son, brother, grandson, uncle, nephew, cousin, friends, work colleague, teammate.” So much more than just a number in a tragic balance sheet.”

Charlie Stevens, 18, was waiting with friends for a bus bound for the Schoolies celebrations in Victor Harbor when he was allegedly hit by Dhirren Randhawa, also 18, in Goolwa, south of Adelaide, at around 9pm on Friday.

Mr Stevens died in hospital 22 hours later, 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 caution, leaving the scene of an accident after causing death and failing to actually answer questions.

South Australian Police Commissioner Grant Stevens has written an emotional letter to his youngest son Charlie, who died from an irreversible brain injury when he was allegedly hit by a car on Schoolies Street

The heartfelt letter described Charlie as “cheeky, intense and funny” and a “lovable goofball as soon as he could talk.”

His father said he was the boy who cared about others, made friends with the lonely and always checked on his friends.

“101 had a circle of friends that the rest of us could only dream of,” Commissioner Stevens wrote.

“He loved his friends and they loved him.” “Living with him meant waking up on weekends with four or five extra bodies in spare beds and on sofas.”