Man Charged in Deadly Fox River Boat Crash: What Happened and Why It Matters

What Happened on the Fox River

On a Saturday afternoon in McHenry, Illinois, a tragic accident occurred on the Fox River. A 30-foot pontoon boat crashed into another boat, killing one person and injuring another. The driver of the pontoon boat, Richard Stevenson, 45, has been arrested and charged with serious crimes.

IMPORTANT POINT
This was not just a simple accident. Prosecutors say Stevenson was driving under the influence of alcohol and speeding at 80 miles per hour in a no-wake zone (an area where boats must go very slowly to prevent dangerous waves).

The Timeline of Events

Here’s what happened, step by step, based on court records and witness videos:

1. 12:40 p.m. – A neighbor’s security camera records Stevenson’s pontoon boat passing by at high speed. A child is seen playing on a swing set nearby.
2. About 1 hour and 45 minutes later – The same camera captures the pontoon boat heading back north on the river.
3. About 1 minute after that – The neighbor hears a loud crash — the collision.
4. The Crash – Stevenson’s pontoon enters a no-wake zone and slams into the back of a green Crownline boat.
5. The Victim – A woman sitting in the passenger seat of the Crownline boat is thrown from the boat and killed (decapitated, according to prosecutors). Her husband is rushed to the hospital.
6. After the Crash – The pontoon drifts to a riverbank. A witness on Riverside Drive finds Stevenson there.
7. Hospital Blood Test – At the hospital, a blood draw shows Stevenson’s blood alcohol concentration (BAC) was 0.20 — that’s 2.5 times the legal limit for driving (or boating) in Illinois.

Evidence Against the Driver

Prosecutors presented several pieces of evidence in court:

• Security camera footage from two different homes showing the boat speeding before the crash
• Witness statements from two passengers who were on Stevenson’s boat
  • Both passengers left the scene but were later interviewed by police
  • They said Stevenson drank multiple shots of Fireball whiskey that day
  • One passenger told police Stevenson was going 80 mph before the crash
• Blood test results confirming a BAC of 0.20
• The location of the crash — in a clearly marked no-wake zone

KEY FACT
A no-wake zone is a designated area on a waterway where boats must operate at the slowest possible speed to maintain steerage — usually under 5 mph. These zones exist to protect people, docks, and other boats from dangerous waves.

The Driver’s Past Record

Prosecutors argued Stevenson should stay in jail because of his long history of dangerous driving:

• Between 1997 and 2005 (8 years):
  • 3 arrests for DUI (Driving Under the Influence)
  • 4 misdemeanor speeding tickets
  • 3 reckless driving offenses
  • 1 charge of fleeing and eluding police
• 2023 – A misdemeanor speeding ticket for driving 26–34 mph over the speed limit

LEGAL NOTE
Reckless homicide means causing someone’s death by acting with extreme carelessness — knowing your actions could kill someone but doing them anyway.
Aggravated DUI is a more serious form of drunk driving, usually because someone was hurt or killed, or the driver had a very high BAC.

What Happens Next

• Stevenson appeared in court on Monday for the first time.
• The judge ordered him detained (held in jail) while the case continues.
• He faces three felony charges, including reckless homicide and aggravated DUI.
• His next court date is August 5.

Summary

• A man named Richard Stevenson, 45, is accused of crashing his pontoon boat into another boat on the Fox River on Saturday.
• The crash killed a woman and injured her husband.
• Prosecutors say Stevenson was drunk (BAC 0.20 — 2.5x the legal limit) and speeding at 80 mph in a no-wake zone.
• Two passengers on his boat confirmed he drank Fireball whiskey and was going extremely fast.
• Security cameras captured the boat speeding before the crash.
• Stevenson has a long history of DUIs, speeding, and reckless driving going back to 1997.
• He is now in jail and faces three felony charges. Next court date: August 5.

FAQ

Q: What is a "no-wake zone" and why does it matter?
A: A no-wake zone is an area on a river or lake where boats must go very slowly (usually under 5 mph) so they don’t create big waves. Big waves can knock people off docks, capsize small boats, or cause crashes. Stevenson was allegedly going 80 mph in one of these zones — that’s like driving a race car through a school zone.

Q: What does a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.20 mean?
A: BAC measures how much alcohol is in your blood. In Illinois, the legal limit for driving or boating is 0.08. A BAC of 0.20 means Stevenson had 2.5 times the legal amount of alcohol in his system. At that level, judgment, balance, and reaction time are severely impaired.

Q: Why is he charged with "reckless homicide" instead of just "accident"?
A: An accident is unintentional. Reckless homicide means the person knew their actions were extremely dangerous (like speeding drunk in a no-wake zone) and did them anyway, resulting in death. It’s a felony — a very serious crime.

Q: Can you get a DUI on a boat?
A: Yes. In Illinois and most states, operating a boat under the influence of alcohol or drugs is a crime — often called BUI (Boating Under the Influence). The legal limit is the same as for driving a car: 0.08 BAC.

Q: What happens if he’s convicted?
A: If found guilty of reckless homicide and aggravated DUI, Stevenson could face many years in prison. The exact sentence depends on the judge, but these are Class 2 and Class 3 felonies in Illinois, typically carrying 3–14 years per count. Because someone died, the penalties are much harsher than a regular DUI.