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Richard Stevenson faces reckless homicide charges after deadly boat crash on the Fox River

Richard Stevenson, a 45-year-old boater, faces multiple felony charges, including reckless homicide and aggravated DUI, after a deadly boat collision on the Illinois Fox River. The accident occurred on Saturday when Stevenson was operating a 30-foot pontoon boat at 80 mph in a no-wake zone. His vessel slammed into the rear of a 20-foot Crownline boat, allegedly decapitating 48-year-old Magdalena Jablonska, a Marine veteran, while her fiancé was left critically injured. Prosecutors described Stevenson as a "ticking time bomb" due to his extensive history of traffic-related offenses, including multiple DUI convictions and reckless driving charges dating back over 20 years. Blood tests revealed Stevenson had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.20, which is more than twice the legal limit in Illinois. A judge ordered Stevenson to be held without release, citing his history and the reckless nature of the crash. Stevenson was subsequently terminated from his position at the Stevenson Crane Company. He is scheduled to appear in court again on August 5.

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