SA Police Commissioner's son dies after alleged hit-and-run
For decades Police Commissioner Grant Stevens has pleaded with South Australians to take care on the road, but now he's facing heartbreak in his own family after his 18-year-old son was critically injured in an alleged hit-and-run. Charlie Stevens had gone to Goolwa Beach for Schoolies.
Transcript
00:00 A terrible day for SA Police ends with another tragedy.
00:05 The pedestrian was 18 year old Charlie Stephens, son of Commissioner Grant Stephens and his
00:11 wife Emma.
00:13 Charlie Stephens this year finished high school and started an apprenticeship in carpentry.
00:18 He was bound for the Schoolies Festival in Victor Harbour along with thousands of other
00:23 year 12s.
00:24 He was struck by a car at nearby Goolwa Beach, suffering an irreversible brain injury.
00:30 As you can imagine, this is a very difficult statement for me to make.
00:34 I offer my condolences to Grant, Emma and the family as well as the wider community
00:40 including Charlie's friends and his work mates.
00:43 We all too often find ourselves desperately wishing that bad things don't happen to good
00:49 people yet too often that is the case.
00:54 Police allege the 18 year old driver from Encounter Bay failed to stop at the scene.
00:58 He was arrested a short time later and is facing several charges.
01:02 This is a time of year where young people come to the region to celebrate life.
01:06 Instead flowers and prayers are being offered to the Stephens family.
01:10 Grant Stephens has been in Bordertown responding to the shooting death of Brevett Sergeant
01:15 Jason Doig with another officer and the alleged shooter both suffering serious injuries.
01:20 He has shown extraordinary leadership in some of the most difficult circumstances this state
01:25 has ever confronted.
01:28 It is just so unjust that he and his family have now had to endure this great tragedy
01:36 themselves.
01:37 The devastation that happens to families with road tragedies goes on for a lifetime.
01:43 The alleged driver is expected to face court on Monday.
01:47 His mother has extended her sympathies to the Stephens family.
01:50 [BLANK_AUDIO]