Lisle man Richard Stevenson charged in fatal Fox River boat crash allegedly had BAC nearly 3 times legal limit
A Lisle, Illinois, man accused of causing a deadly boat crash on the Fox River this past weekend allegedly had a blood alcohol content level nearly three times the legal limit at the time.
Richard Stevenson, 45, was charged with reckless homicide and aggravated driving under the influence after investigators said the triple-engine pontoon boat he was operating collided with another boat on Saturday afternoon — killing one woman and injuring another. He is due in court Monday.
According to the criminal complaint filed by McHenry County prosecutors, Stevenson had his boat at full throttle in a posted no-wake zone when he lost control, colliding with the other oat before striking timber along the west bank of the river.
Stevenson remained at the scene and was taken to Northwestern Medicine McHenry Hospital, where prosecutors say a toxicology report showed his blood alcohol content was 0.236, nearly three times the legal limit of 0.08.
The woman on the other boat was killed instantly, prosecutors said. A passenger on the boat with Stevenson suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
CBS News Chicago has obtained multiple videos that show the pontoon racing down the river what was estimated to be about 70 mph in the moments before the crash.
The boat’s three-engine setup also drew attention. Some boating experts have questioned whether that much power is necessary on a pontoon.
“It’s becoming more common, but in my opinion, it seems a little bit overkill,” said Ben Brandano with Boat Safe Chicago.
Stevenson was to appear for a detention hearing at 1:15 p.m. Wednesday in McHenry County court in Woodstock. The hearing could reveal what investigators believe led to the deadly collision, and whether prosecutors ask a judge to keep Stevenson in custody as the case moves forward.
The woman who was killed has yet to be identified. CBS News Chicago is also awaiting an update on the condition of the second victim.
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