Man Charged After Alleged Drunk Boating Crash Kills Woman on Fox River

A 45-year-old Lisle man faces felony reckless homicide and aggravated DUI charges after his high-powered pontoon boat allegedly sped into a designated no-wake zone on Illinois' Fox River at roughly 80 mph, crashing onto another vessel and killing a woman on board while injuring her husband.

A summer outing on Illinois' Fox River turned fatal on Saturday when a 31-foot pontoon boat allegedly driven by a drunk, speeding operator struck another vessel from behind in a designated no-wake zone. According to law enforcement officials and court documents, 45-year-old Richard M. Stevenson of Lisle was arrested and charged with reckless homicide on a watercraft and aggravated driving under the influence resulting in death following the catastrophic impact near McHenry, Illinois.

High-Speed Collision in Restricted No-Wake Zone

The crash occurred around 2:30 p.m. near the 1800 block of South Fernwood Lane, just south of the McHenry Dam an area where boats are legally required to operate at slow, no-wake speeds. Eyewitnesses and riverfront surveillance video captured Stevenson’s triple-engine South Bay pontoon traveling at "full throttle," estimated at speeds up to 80 mph, shortly before it collided with a 1997 Crownline boat.

The impact caused Stevenson’s pontoon to climb over the stern of the smaller vessel, instantly killing a female passenger on board and inflicting severe injuries on her husband, who was rushed to a local hospital in critical condition. Two passengers traveling with Stevenson initially fled the scene on foot but were later located and interviewed by law enforcement investigators.

Allegations of Extreme Intoxication and Prior Infractions

According to prosecutors at Stevenson's initial court appearance in McHenry County, the defendant had been consuming Fireball whiskey shots and other alcoholic beverages at riverfront stops prior to the crash. As reported by @ExxAlerts on X, passengers on his boat reported that they witnessed him driving recklessly throughout the day and feared for their safety.

After refusing blood, breath, and urine tests at the hospital following the collision, law enforcement officers obtained a search warrant for a blood draw. Prosecutors revealed in court that tests measured Stevenson's blood alcohol content (BAC) at .236 nearly three times the legal limit for operating a motor vehicle or watercraft in Illinois. Describing the dangerous conditions on the water, Assistant State's Attorney Brian Miller characterized Stevenson during the detention hearing as "a ticking time bomb that tragically went off."

Highlighting the broader public safety risk of operating watercraft while impaired, McHenry County State's Attorney Randi Freese stated, "Our rivers and lakes should be places where families can safely enjoy time together, not places where the reckless and impaired can turn a summer day into a tragedy. No family should have to endure the unimaginable loss suffered in this case."

Defense Argument, Presumption of Innocence, and Judicial Response

Despite the gravity of the allegations, Stevenson is presumed innocent under the law unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. During Monday's detention hearing, Stevenson's defense attorney argued against pre-trial detention, asserting that strict court-imposed conditions such as a complete prohibition on operating motor vehicles or boats, mandatory electronic monitoring, and alcohol abstinence monitoring could sufficiently mitigate any risk to the public while allowing the defendant to prepare his defense outside of jail.

However, presiding Judge Cynthia Lamb rejected the defense's request and ordered Stevenson to remain detained in the McHenry County Jail pending trial. The judge cited his alleged disregard for passenger warnings, severe speed in a restricted zone, and extreme level of intoxication as evidence that he poses a real and present danger to the safety of the community.

Ongoing Investigation and Legal Proceedings

Illinois Conservation Police and the McHenry County Sheriff's Office continue to investigate the crash, collecting river surveillance footage, reconstructing the collision dynamics, and gathering witness testimony. Stevenson faces multiple Class 2 and Class 3 felony charges, which carry substantial prison sentences if he is convicted.