Drunk boater with history of DUI accused of causing horrific crash that killed woman on Illinois river — prosecutors say he was a ‘ticking time-bomb’

A day on the water turned into a devastating tragedy after prosecutors say an Illinois man with a long history of alcohol-related driving offenses crashed his boat into another vessel at an extremely high speed, killing a 48-year-old woman and seriously injuring her husband.

Richard Stevenson, 45, is accused of piloting his 31-foot pontoon boat through a designated no-wake zone at speeds approaching 80 mph before slamming into the back of a smaller recreational boat on the Fox River Saturday afternoon.

The force of the collision was catastrophic.

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According to prosecutors, the woman suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene, while her husband survived with injuries. During Monday’s detention hearing, investigators revealed the severity of the crash as they urged the court to keep Stevenson behind bars while the criminal case moves forward.

Standing before the judge, Deputy Chief Brian Miller delivered a statement that immediately drew attention inside the courtroom.

“This man was a ticking time-bomb, and that bomb went off this past Saturday on the Fox River.”

The judge ultimately agreed to hold Stevenson in custody pending further court proceedings.

Investigators say witnesses watched him drinking throughout the day

Authorities allege the fatal crash was not an isolated moment of reckless judgment but the culmination of hours of dangerous behavior.

According to prosecutors, multiple witnesses told investigators Stevenson had been consuming alcohol throughout the day before getting behind the controls of the pontoon boat.

Surveillance footage reviewed by investigators reportedly showed the vessel repeatedly traveling at extremely high speeds along both the Fox River and the connected Chain O’Lakes waterways in the hours leading up to the collision.

The crash occurred shortly after 2:30 p.m. Saturday near McHenry, Illinois.

Prosecutors allege Stevenson never slowed as he approached the smaller 20-foot Crownline boat, despite traveling through an area where boaters are required to reduce speed because of surrounding traffic and safety concerns.

Instead, investigators say the pontoon struck the smaller boat from behind with overwhelming force.

Emergency crews rushed to the scene after multiple 911 calls reported the violent collision.

When first responders arrived, they found Stevenson standing near the shoreline close to his damaged pontoon boat.

He was later transported to Northwestern Hospital in McHenry, where blood testing allegedly revealed a blood alcohol concentration of approximately 0.20—about two and a half times Illinois’ legal limit for operating a vehicle.

By the time deputies reached the crash scene, two passengers who had reportedly been riding aboard Stevenson’s boat had already left.

Investigators are continuing to determine their roles and whether additional evidence may emerge.

History of repeated offenses becomes major focus

While the collision itself shocked the community, prosecutors argued that Stevenson’s driving history made the tragedy even more disturbing.

According to court records presented during Monday’s hearing, Stevenson had previously faced three separate drunk-driving cases, three reckless driving charges, and four misdemeanor speeding violations before Saturday’s fatal crash.

Prosecutors pointed to that record as evidence that Stevenson posed an ongoing danger to the public.

Their argument centered not only on what happened Saturday, but on whether warning signs had existed for years.

The prosecution told the court that repeated traffic-related offenses demonstrated a pattern of risky behavior that ultimately escalated into a deadly incident on the river.

That history became one of the key reasons prosecutors requested Stevenson remain in custody while awaiting trial.

Multiple criminal charges filed

Following the investigation, Stevenson was arrested and charged with:

• Reckless homicide
• Two counts of aggravated boating under the influence

Additional charges could still be considered as investigators continue reviewing witness statements, surveillance footage, and forensic evidence collected from the scene.

Authorities have not publicly identified the woman who died, and her family has not yet spoken publicly about the tragedy.

The woman’s husband survived the crash, though officials have released few details about his condition.

Community left asking one painful question

As investigators continue piecing together exactly what happened in the moments before impact, the case has sparked renewed debate about impaired boating and repeat offenders.

For many following the case, the most unsettling detail is not only the alleged speed or the reported level of intoxication.

It is the allegation that the man accused of causing the fatal crash had been cited multiple times before for similar dangerous behavior.

Stevenson is scheduled to return to court on August 5, where the criminal proceedings against him will continue as prosecutors seek to prove the charges filed against him.