Tragic new details emerge about Dhirren Randhawa, who allegedly hit the son of SA Police Commissioner Charlie Stevens

The teenage driver accused of killing the SA Police Commissioner’s son was an “aspiring doctor” who “never drank” – as new details emerge about the alleged hit-and-run.

Charlie Stevens, 18, was waiting with friends for a bus to a school function in Victor Harbor when he was allegedly hit by 18-year-old Dhirren Randhawa 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.

Now, just hours before the P-plate driver appeared in court for the first time on Monday, friends of the Randhawa family have come to the teenager’s defense.

Although police will maintain that Randhawa turned around, accelerated and was on the wrong side of the road at the time of the accident, relatives say he is a “good kid” who is close to his single mother and younger brother and sister.

Charlie Stevens (pictured) was remembered by devastated loved ones as a ‘beautiful boy’

Relatives told the media Randhawa, a former Victor Harbor School graduate, works as a hairdressing apprentice at a local barbershop – where he is very popular with customers – and has been dating his high school sweetheart for the past year.

They said Randhawa, who dreams of becoming a doctor, has never drank alcohol, taken drugs or smoked cigarettes.

Outside of work, he helped rescue dogs in the area and loved spending time with his two favorite Akitas, Hachi and Bella, whom he walked with every day.

In addition to the internship, he also considered continuing his studies at university.

Friends say Randhawa’s close-knit family, who live in Encounter Bay, are well known in the local community and are “devastated” by the disaster.

They have hired former Nine Network reader Georgina McGuiness as media adviser and lawyer Jane Abbey KC to help with Randhawa’s legal case.

The fresh insight comes as the charges against Randhawa were revealed in the Christies Beach Magistrates’ Court on Monday.

Court documents show that police will allege that Randhawa caused the death by dangerous driving, based on the accounts of three eyewitnesses who were with Mr Stevens on Friday evening.

At the time of the alleged accident, Mr Stevens – the son of SA Police Commissioner Grant Stevens – is believed to have been at the family’s beach house and waiting at a nearby bus stop to catch a bus to a school function.

Charlie is pictured with his dad, SA Police Commissioner Grant Stevens

Tributes have poured in online for Charlie, who recently started a carpentry apprenticeship

Police say that moments before the tragedy, Mr Stevens “stopped” Randhawa as he drove by to see if they could get a ride, but there wasn’t enough room for them all.

Daily Mail Australia does not suggest there was any hostility between the groups.

Police allege that as Randhawa drove away, three witnesses were standing on the grass shoulder on the westbound side of the road, while Stevens was near the southbound lane.

As the group continued walking toward the gravel shoulder, Randhawa made a U-turn, drove on the wrong side of the road and struck Stevens, police said.

However, a passenger in Randhawa’s car gave police a second version of events, claiming she saw Mr Stevens “running across the street and into the path” of the vehicle.

She allegedly saw several men walking on the west side of the road and partially on the sidewalk, as well as another man on the east side of the road.

He says a man on the east side of the road ran across the road, right in front of Randhawa’s car.

The witness, police say, told officers that Randhawa drove nearby, where he called his mother and asked whether he should call the police or go to the police station in person.

The witness allegedly said police showed up while Randhawa was on the phone and he surrendered.

Flowers and teddy bears were left at the scene of the alleged hit-and-run in Mr. Stevens’ honor

Family friends say Randhawa (pictured) is the family kid who dreamed of becoming a doctor

On Saturday, Randhawa’s mother released a statement expressing condolences to the Stevens family.

“I offer my deepest sympathies to the Stevens family and my heart breaks for the suffering and pain they are experiencing,” she said.

“Out of respect and knowing that this is now a matter for the courts, I will not say anything more at this time.”

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.

If convicted, he faces a maximum of 15 years in prison and disqualification from driving for 10 years or a longer period determined by the court.

Police are investigating whether the magnetic blue 2011 Volkswagen Golf hatchback allegedly driven by Randhawa may have been driven by P-plater.

According to the online car guide, the five-door Golf can reach 100 km/h in less than six seconds. The car has a retail price of $52,490 new or up to $16,000 used.

Under driving license regulations, people with a P-platform are prohibited from driving certain vehicles that can be considered “high performance” cars.

Family friends said the car was a “standard edition”.

Meanwhile, tributes began to gather outside the bus station where the alleged accident took place on Friday – on the first evening of the school’s celebrations.

Randhawa’s mother released a statement Saturday expressing her condolences to the Stevens family.

Charlie Stevens, 18, was celebrating a student celebration in Goolwa Beach on Friday when he was allegedly hit by a car on Beach Rd at around 9 p.m.

After the collision, Charlie was flown to hospital in serious condition. Photo: 7 NEWS

“I offer my deepest sympathies to the Stevens family and my heart breaks for the suffering and pain they are experiencing,” she said in a statement.

“Out of respect and knowing that this is now a matter for the courts, I will not say anything more at this time.”

In a family statement on Sunday evening shared by SA Police, Commissioner Stevens and Mrs Stevens thanked the police, emergency services and other emergency services workers who attended the incident.

“The Stevens family would also like to thank the wider community for their support at this difficult time, and particularly thank the dedicated staff at Flinders Medical Center for their care and support of Charlie, his family and friends.”

Daily Mail Australia understands Commissioner Stevens will take indefinite leave to be with his family as they grieve.

The court hearing continues.