Devastated police commissioner breaks silence in emotional letter after his son was killed in an alleged hit-and-run during Schoolies

South Australia Police Commissioner Grant Stevens has written an emotional letter to his youngest son Charlie, who died from irreversible brain damage after allegedly being hit by a car on Schoolies.

“I’m writing this sitting in my bedroom with dirty clothes on the floor, an unmade bed, six glasses on the bedside table, an empty KFC box next to the glasses, the closet door left open and a row of skateboards leaning on the wall – it’s messy and it’s perfect. 101 people lived here,” he wrote.

The number 101 refers to the 101st fatality on South Australian roads this year.

‘101 appeared on April 28, 2005 and changed our lives forever. The last of the five was different. Cheeky, intense and funny – a cute rat from the moment he could talk,” he continued.

“He was so damn frustrating, but he was also a kid who cared for others, made friends with those who were lonely, and helped those who were struggling.

“The intensity came as 101 devoted himself to each new passion – Lego, BBL, scooters, soccer, cricket, basketball, surfing, downhilling, Fortnite and his skateboard – it was all or nothing and it was always everything.

‘101 hated cheese because his brother made it. He was a master of the airfryer, nutrabulet and steamer. He loved his mother’s curry sausages, but he didn’t know where the dishwasher was.

“His favorite pastime was pushing mom’s buttons – although his birth certificate had a different name, the most common in our house was ‘fuck off, Charlie’, followed by ‘put on a shirt’ and ‘get it.’ take off your hat at the table.

‘101 loved football. He loved the Cats, played 100 games for the Mitcham Hawks, then the Jets, Goody Sained, Camels and Westies. He just wanted to play and be part of the team.

“It was 101 that taught us that you can’t take a shower unless you have your Bluetooth speaker turned all the way on so Mom and Dad can’t hear them talking in the kitchen. 101 that I never needed for soap, shampoo or shavers – someone else always has them in the house – even a used towel!

“His enthusiasm for school knew no bounds – except when classes started and school work started. But his enthusiasm for his family and friends was real.

‘101 has a group of friends that the rest of us can only dream of. He loved his colleagues and they loved him. His friends’ parents liked to have 101 in their homes. He was hanging out with his brother’s friends. Living with him meant waking up on the weekend with four or five extra bodies in spare beds and couches. This meant turning the family garage into a man cave where things could happen that the parents didn’t know about (or probably wouldn’t allow).

‘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.

“Son, brother, grandson, uncle, nephew, cousin, friends, workmate, teammate. Much more than just a tragic number.

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

Stevens died 22 hours later in hospital, and 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, dangerous driving without due care, leaving the scene of an accident after causing death and failing to answer questions truthfully.

His father said he was a child who took care of others, made friends with lonely people, and always checked on his friends.

The heartfelt letter described Charlie as “cheeky, intense and funny” and “a lovable rat from the moment he could talk.”

His father said he was a child who took care of others, made friends with lonely people and always checked on his friends.