Charlie Stevens: Family pay tribute to son of SA Police Commissioner killed after being struck by car at schoolies

The family of the 18-year-old son of the SA Police Commissioner have shared a heartbreaking statement after the teenager was killed when he was allegedly hit by a car at a schoolies celebration.

Charlie Stevens, 18, was in Goolwa Beach celebrating schoolies on Friday when he was allegedly struck by a car on Beach Rd at about 9pm.

The teen, whose father is Police Commissioner Grant Stevens, suffered serious injuries and was flown to Flinders Medical Centre where it was found he had sustained an 'irreversible brain injury'.

His family rushed from across the country to be by his side for his final moments and confirmed shortly before 9pm on Saturday that he had died.

Charlie's mother Emma Stevens paid a heartbreaking tribute to her son on Facebook, writing: 'Forever 18 my beautiful boy, going to miss you and love you for ever.'

His older brother Steven posted a heartbreaking tribute to Instagram on Saturday.

'My best mate, my biggest rival, my number one fan, my little brother Charlie,' he wrote.

'It breaks my heart my days of being a big brother have come to an end, forever in our hearts, forever young and beautiful.'

The tribute included photos of Charlie skateboarding on a ramp and riding down a street with his brother. 

In a family statement from Sunday night shared by SA Police, Mr and Mrs Stevens thanked the police, first responders and other emergency services workers who attended the incident.

'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.'

The president of Goodwood Saints Football Club, where Mr Stevens is a loved member of the AFL community, sent out a post to members of the club to share the 'tragic' news.

'Charlie has always been an effervescent presence and a pleasure to coach, and well loved within and outside his team,' President Jordan Dodd said in a post to Facebook on Saturday night.

'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.

Mental health support programs have been made available for players and families, particularly within the under 17.5 boys team and their families in the coming days.

Deputy Commissioner Linda Williams broke down in tears as she revealed Charlie's identity to the media on Saturday morning, alongside the premier.

'As you can imagine, this is a very difficult statement,' she said.

'We always talk about this happening to other people but the reality is it can happen to anyone, any family or anyone in the community.

'The sense of grief is always enormous.'

Premier Peter Malinauskas said he and the South Australian community stood with Commissioner Stevens and his family.

'Grant Stevens has served South Australia as a member of South Australian Police for over 14 years,' he said.

'His whole life he has dedicated himself to protecting others, protecting South Australians from evil ...

'We also often find ourselves desperately wishing bad things don't happen to good people, but that is the case, and this is clearly an example of it.'

Federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, a former police officer, has shared his heartbreak.

'My thoughts and prayers are with the Stevens family following the horrible and tragic accident involving their son Charlie. Grant and his family have given so much to the people of SA and this is a truly heartbreaking event,' he said.

State Liberal leader David Speirs called on South Australians to rally behind the Stevens family.

'Another day and more tragic news for our South Australian Police community,' he said.

'Overnight there's been a heartbreaking incident at Schoolies festival at Goolwa. My thoughts are with Police Commissioner Grant Stevens and his family as they deal with this sad and difficult time.

'Grant has been an exceptional leader in South Australia through tough times. Now he needs our support.'

The driver of the car, an 18-year-old Encounter Bay man, did not stop at the scene.

He was pulled over by police a short distance from the scene of the collision at Port Elliot Rd.

He was arrested and charged with causing harm by dangerous driving, aggravated driving without due care, leaving the scene of a serious crash and failing to truly answer questions.

His vehicle was towed from the scene and will undergo forensic examination while the area remained closed off on Saturday morning as it underwent examination by Major Crash Investigators.

The driver will appear in Christies Beach Magistrates Court on Monday.

It has been a horror year for South Australia's road toll, with the state now recording 101 deaths after a man and a woman died in a car crash in Willalooka on Saturday.

The fatality figure was 61 for the same period last year.

Charlie Stevens had just begun work as an apprentice carpenter, a job he 'very much loved'.

The tragedy comes after Commissioner Stevens spoke to the media at length on Friday, prior to the incident involving his son, regarding the death of a police officer in the town of Senior.

In what he called a 'devastating day for South Australia Police', Commissioner Stevens confirmed that 53-year-old Brevet Sergeant Jason Doig had been fatally shot after attending a rural property where he was confronted by an armed suspect.

Another police officer, Sergeant Michael Hutchinson, was also shot, as well as the 26-year-old occupant later identified as Jaydn Stimson.

It marked the first time a serving police officer had been killed in the line of duty in the state for more than 20 years.