MCHENRY COUNTY, IL — A McHenry County judge has ordered a suburban executive accused of operating a boat while impaired and causing a fatal Fox River collision to remain behind bars as court proceedings move forward, according to online court records.
Richard Stevenson, 45, of Lisle, is charged with reckless homicide involving a watercraft and aggravated DUI involving an accident causing death following Saturday's crash.
Police were called around 2:30 p.m. on Saturday to a two-boat crash on the Fox River near 1819 South Fernwood Lane in McHenry, according to the felony complaint filed Monday in McHenry County Circuit Court. 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 crash resulted in the decapitation and death of a female passenger on the second boat, court documents state.
The woman's identity had not yet been released as of Monday morning.
After the collision, Stevenson's vessel lost control and crashed into timber along the west bank of the river, according to the complaint. Stevenson remained at the scene and was later taken 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 driving in Illinois is 0.08.
A LinkedIn profile for Stevenson listed him as a vice president for Bolingbrook-based Stevenson Crane Company, Inc.
A portion of the Fox River was closed amid an investigation into the fatal collision over the weekend but has since reopened.
Stevenson is next expected in court on Aug. 5 for a preliminary hearing, according to online court records.
Illinois Conservation Police are asking anyone who witnessed the collision, observed either boat before or after the crash, or has information related to the incident to contact investigators.
"Conservation police are leading the investigation and are asking to hear from anyone who witnessed the crash, observed either vessel before or after the collision, or may have information related to the incident," IDNR officials said in a Monday afternoon Facebook post. "Investigators welcome any photographs or video taken in the area around the time of the crash, including cell phone video, security camera footage or video recorded while boating on the Fox River."
Since the crash, numerous people have shared videos and comments on Facebook claiming they saw the boat involved traveling at high speeds or being operated recklessly before the collision. Others have alleged the operator's behavior at businesses and establishments along the Fox River earlier that day may be relevant.
Patch has not independently verified those claims. Investigators are asking anyone with firsthand information, photos or video to provide that information directly to Illinois Conservation Police.
Witnesses can email Illinois Conservation Police at DNR.LawReception@illinois.gov or submit information through the agency's online incident reporting form.
Patch.com has reached out to the IDNR for more information but has not yet heard back.
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