MCHENRY COUNTY, IL - A man in his forties is accused of drunkenly operating a pontoon boat that struck and ran over a smaller boat, decapitating a woman.
The alleged suspect, 45-year-old Richard Stevenson, has been detained after authorities claim he drunkenly operated a boat on Fox River. He is now facing two counts of aggravated driving under the influence causing death and one count of reckless homicide, according to the McHenry County State's Attorney's Office.
The incident happened on July 25, PEOPLE reported. The crash happened around 2:30 p.m. on the Fox River, south of the McHenry Dam in McHenry, when Stevenson's 31-foot Southbay pontoon allegedly struck the back of a 20-foot Crownline while traveling at an "extremely high rate of speed," authorities said in a press release.
The pontoon then rode over the smaller vessel, prosecutors allege. Illinois Conservation Police responded to the scene and found the Crownline severely damaged. They discovered a 48-year-old woman dead onboard after she sustained catastrophic injuries in the collision.
The woman, whose identity has not yet been made public, was decapitated in the crash. The pontoon, meanwhile, had run aground nearby. Stevenson was later found among trees off the shoreline near where the vessel had come to a stop. Two other people who had been aboard the pontoon left the area before law enforcement arrived.
Stevenson was transported to a nearby hospital following the crash. Prosecutors allege blood test results showed his blood alcohol concentration was approximately .200, according to evidence presented at the detention hearing.
Witnesses also told investigators that Stevenson had been drinking throughout the day while operating the pontoon and had been traveling at high speeds on the Chain O' Lakes and Fox River shortly before the fatal accident. During the hearing, prosecutors also presented evidence of his previous charges, including three for driving under the influence of alcohol and three for reckless driving.
He had also previously faced four misdemeanor speeding offenses, according to prosecutors. "This man was a ticking time-bomb and that bomb went off this past Saturday on the Fox River,” Deputy Chief Brian Miller said while arguing that Stevenson should remain detained."
Judge Cynthia D. Lamb ultimately granted the state's petition to deny Stevenson pretrial release. Stevenson is scheduled to return to court on August 5. McHenry County State's Attorney Randi L. Freese expressed condolences to the victim's family following the collision.
"Our rivers and lakes should be places where families can safely enjoy time together, not places where the reckless and impaired can turn a summer day into a tragedy,” Freese said. “No family should have to endure the unimaginable loss suffered in this case."
"Our prayers go out to the victim’s family, and while nothing can undo the tragedy that occurred on the Fox River, our office is committed to pursuing justice for her, her loved ones, and our community,” she added.
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