Boater's Blood Alcohol Nearly 3 Times Legal Limit In Fatal Fox River Boat Crash: Court Documents

MCHENRY, IL — A Lisle man accused of operating a boat with a blood alcohol concentration nearly three times the legal limit crashed into another vessel on the Fox River, killing a female passenger who was decapitated in the collision, according to newly filed McHenry County court documents provided to Patch Monday morning.

Richard M. Stevenson, 45, has been charged with aggravated DUI involving an accident causing death and reckless homicide involving a watercraft after the Saturday crash near South Fernwood Lane in McHenry, court records show.

• Police Seek Videos, Witnesses In Fatal Fox River Boat Crash

A LinkedIn profile for Stevenson listed him as a vice president for Bolingbrook-based Stevenson Crane Company, Inc.

According to a felony complaint filed Monday in McHenry County Circuit Court, Illinois Conservation Police Officer Andrew Gott was called around 2:30 p.m. Saturday to a two-boat crash on the Fox River near 1819 South Fernwood Lane.

The complaint alleges Stevenson was operating a 2026 31-foot black-and-orange South Bay motorboat that “overtook” a second vessel, a 1997 white-and-green Crownline.

A witness told investigators the South Bay was traveling at full throttle as it entered a no-wake area and collided with the Crownline, according to the complaint. The collision resulted in the death of a female passenger aboard the second vessel, court documents state.

The woman’s identity had not been released as of Monday afternoon.

After the crash, Stevenson’s boat lost control and struck timber along the west bank of the river, according to the complaint. Stevenson remained at the scene and was later transported to Northwestern Medicine McHenry Hospital.

Officials said there were two people aboard each boat. A man who was aboard the same vessel as the woman who was killed was taken to a hospital in critical condition and placed on life support.

Another person was hospitalized with injuries that were not considered life-threatening, according to WGN.

A toxicology report showed Stevenson had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.236, according to the complaint. The legal limit for operating a vehicle or watercraft in Illinois is 0.08.

Stevenson remained in custody Monday afternoon awaiting an initial court appearance. During the hearing, a McHenry County Circuit Court judge will determine whether he should remain detained as court proceedings continue.

Witnesses Reported Seeing Boat Speeding

Over the weekend, neighbors along the Fox told CBS Chicago they saw the boat traveling at speeds they estimated reached 70 mph shortly before the crash. They also described the area where the collision occurred as a dangerous stretch of the river.

"This is a dangerous part of the river," Bob Sexton told CBS News. "It's very narrow as far as the river goes, and then the speeding around the corners here, it's kind of a blind corner as you're coming around."

Videos appearing to show the speeding boat have also circulated on social media as residents and boaters reported seeing the vessel being operated recklessly before the crash.

Illinois law prohibits anyone from operating a vessel while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. A person is considered to be operating a vessel under the influence of alcohol if the alcohol concentration in their blood or breath is 0.08 percent or more. Boaters who operate a vessel on Illinois waters have given "implied" consent to alcohol and/or drug testing if they are arrested for operating under the influence, according to Illinois law.

Emergency Crews Respond to Fatal Crash

Meanwhile, the fatal boating incident on the Fox River underscores the importance of specialized emergency response training, said Steven Spraker, fire chief for the McHenry Township Fire District, in a Facebook post.

He said water search operations require extensive training, countless hours of practice and continued investment in specialized equipment.

“We train long before these incidents occur so that when someone calls for help, our personnel are ready,” Spraker said.

He praised firefighters for their professionalism during the emotionally and physically demanding response and offered condolences to the victim’s family.

The cause of the collision remains under investigation.