It was supposed to be a calm, sunny Saturday afternoon out on the water. A couple was enjoying a quiet cruise in a small white boat along the Fox River in McHenry County. The sun was warm, the river was peaceful, and watercraft were expected to move at a slow, gentle pace through the designated no-wake zone. But in an instant, that calm summer outing turned into an absolute nightmare that shattered a family forever.
Without warning, a massive pontoon equipped with three high-powered engines came roaring down the river. Eyewitnesses along the bank watched in horror as the oversized craft skittered across the water at speeds estimated near 70 miles per hour. People enjoying their weekend on the shore could only watch helplessly as the speeding craft headed straight toward the unsuspecting small boat.
The violent head-on collision occurred around 2:30 p.m. just south of the McHenry Dam, near South Fernwood Lane. The force of the impact smashed into the smaller white vessel with catastrophic force, crushing the craft and leaving total devastation in its wake. The calm river air was instantly filled with the sound of splintering fiberglass and desperate cries for help.
First responders from the McHenry Township Fire Protection District rushed to the scene shortly after neighbors called in emergency reports. Rescue crews launched specialized side-scan sonar and sent divers directly into the water to search for victims. Tragically, a female passenger aboard the smaller boat suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead right there at the scene.
The man who was aboard the small boat with her barely survived the horrific crash. Emergency medical technicians stabilized him on site before rushing him to a nearby hospital under advanced life support. He remains in critical condition as medical staff fight to save his life following the brutal impact.
What made the tragedy even more heartbreaking for local residents was what happened immediately after the crash. Instead of stopping to render aid or check on the victims, the people on board the speeding pontoon ran their boat ashore and fled the area. A bystander managed to chase down one occupant, while another person reportedly escaped using a rideshare service before police arrived.
Law enforcement officers with the Illinois Conservation Police launched a swift investigation to track down those responsible for the fatal hit-and-run. Early Sunday morning, around 4:30 a.m., authorities arrested 45-year-old Richard M. Stevenson of Lisle. Investigators determined that Stevenson was operating the triple-engine pontoon while under the influence at the time of the crash.
Stevenson now faces serious felony charges, including aggravated driving under the influence on a watercraft and reckless homicide. As he sits in the McHenry County Jail awaiting his court appearance, a community mourns the senseless loss of a woman whose life was stolen on a quiet stretch of river where speed limits were meant to keep everyone safe.
Leave a Reply