Woman Killed in Fox River Boat Crash; Driver Charged with DUI and Reckless Homicide

Location: McHenry, Illinois
When: Saturday afternoon (weekend of the incident)
Status: Suspect detained, next court date August 5

What Happened?

A tragic boat crash on the Fox River took the life of Magdalena Jablonska, a 48-year-old woman from Des Plaines. She was a passenger on a smaller boat when a large pontoon boat slammed into it at high speed.

Who Was Involved?

How Did the Crash Happen? (Step-by-Step)

1. Stevenson was driving a 30-foot pontoon boat on the Fox River.
2. He had been drinking — prosecutors say he took multiple shots of Fireball whiskey.
3. He was speeding — witnesses and passengers say he was going 80 miles per hour on the water.
4. He entered a "no-wake zone" — this is a marked area where boats must go very slow (usually under 5 mph) to protect people and property.
5. He crashed into the back of a green Crownline boat where the Jablonskas were sitting.
6. The impact was so violent that Magdalena Jablonska was thrown from the boat and decapitated.
7. Stevenson’s boat ended up on a riverbank, where a witness found him.
8. A blood test at the hospital showed his blood alcohol level was 0.20 — that’s 2.5 times the legal limit for driving a boat (or a car) in Illinois.

What Evidence Exists?

• Home security camera from a house on the river recorded the pontoon going south, then turning north about 1 hour 45 minutes before the crash.
• A second video (from a child playing on swings) shows the boat passing at 12:40 p.m. — nearly two hours before the crash.
• Both passengers on Stevenson’s boat told police he was drinking and speeding.

Important Point: This Wasn’t Stevenson’s First Offense

Callout: Prior Record
Prosecutors revealed Stevenson has a long history of dangerous driving:

• Three DUI arrests (1997–2005)
• Four speeding tickets
• Three reckless driving charges
• Fleeing and eluding police
• A 2023 speeding ticket for going 26–34 mph over the limit

What Happens Next?

• Stevenson is currently detained (held in jail) while the case moves forward.
• His next court date is August 5.
• Prosecutors are pushing to keep him in custody due to his history and the severity of the crash.

Summary

• A 48-year-old woman was killed when a drunk, speeding boater crashed into her boat on the Fox River.
• The driver, Richard Stevenson (45), had a blood alcohol level of 0.20 — 2.5x the legal limit.
• He was going 80 mph in a no-wake zone and has a long record of DUIs and reckless driving.
• He’s charged with reckless homicide and aggravated DUI, and is being held in jail until his August 5 court date.

FAQ

1. What is a "no-wake zone"?

A no-wake zone is a marked area on a waterway where boats must travel at very low speed (usually under 5 mph) so they don’t create waves ("wakes") that could endanger people, docks, or other boats.

2. What does "blood alcohol concentration of 0.20" mean?

It means 0.20% of the person’s blood is alcohol. In Illinois, the legal limit for operating a boat (or driving a car) is 0.08%. So 0.20 is 2.5 times the legal limit — extremely impaired.

3. What is "reckless homicide"?

It’s a criminal charge for unintentionally killing someone by acting recklessly — like driving a boat at 80 mph while drunk in a slow zone.

4. Why was Stevenson detained instead of released on bail?

Prosecutors argued he’s a danger to the community because of his long history of DUIs and reckless driving, plus the severity of this crash. The judge agreed to hold him until trial.

5. What happened to the two passengers on Stevenson’s boat?

They left the scene after the crash but were later found and interviewed by police. Both said Stevenson had been drinking Fireball and driving at 80 mph.

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