Horrifying scenes unfolded on the Fox River in McHenry, Illinois, after a woman was decapitated in a deadly boat collision. The incident occurred on Saturday afternoon (07/25) when a drunk boat owner was speeding at high velocity, crashing into another vessel and causing the tragic death of a 48-year-old woman while seriously injuring her husband.
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Tragedy in Illinois: Boat owner had consumed large amounts of alcohol
According to information from the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office, 45-year-old Richard Stevenson had consumed a large quantity of alcohol, while his approximately 33-foot boat had been traveling at 70 knots per hour (80 miles per hour) in a no-wake zone on the river.
Drunk boater decapitates woman after crashing into her at 80 miles per hour https://t.co/aCLc8vlr9k pic.twitter.com/KuA6GVDVIr
— New York Post (@nypost) July 28, 2026
When police arrived at the scene, Stevenson was found near his boat along the tree line and was immediately arrested. He has been charged with involuntary manslaughter and aggravated boating under the influence of alcohol.
He was subsequently transported to a hospital, where tests revealed a blood alcohol concentration of approximately 0.200 mg/l — two and a half times above the legal limit for operating a vessel. Two other individuals who were aboard Stevenson’s boat at the time fled the scene.
“He was a ticking time bomb”
“This man was a ticking time bomb, and that bomb went off last Saturday on the Fox River,” said Assistant Chief Brian Miller during Stevenson’s court hearing. Multiple witnesses told investigators that Stevenson had been drinking throughout the entire day, while security camera footage captured the 45-year-old operating his boat at dangerously high speeds on both the Fox River and the nearby Chain O’Lakes before the fatal collision.
Stevenson had previously been charged three times for driving under the influence and reckless driving, and also has four misdemeanor speeding violations on his record, according to prosecutors. Stevenson is expected to appear in court again on August 5.
