Richard Stevenson, a 45-year-old crane company employee with a criminal record spanning over two decades, has been charged with aggravated DUI and reckless homicide after prosecutors say he crashed a pontoon boat into another vessel while intoxicated, killing a passenger. The collision occurred on Saturday, July 25, along the Fox River in McHenry County, Illinois.
The victim has been identified as 48-year-old Magdalena Jablonska, a Marine veteran who came to Chicago from Poland. According to authorities, Stevenson struck the family’s boat from behind while traveling at 80 mph in a designated slow zone. His blood alcohol content measured nearly three times the legal threshold, prosecutors said.
In court, prosecutors described the defendant as a “ticking time bomb” given his extensive history of traffic violations. Records reveal two earlier DUI convictions, three reckless driving convictions, three prior charges for evading law enforcement, and four misdemeanor citations for exceeding speed limits, with his record dating back more than 20 years. Stevenson now faces two counts of aggravated DUI causing death and one count of reckless homicide.
The Day of the Tragedy
Jablonska had been enjoying time on the water with loved ones when the collision occurred. Her fiancé sustained critical injuries in the crash, and her dog was also hurt. Witnesses reported seeing Stevenson pick up a “bucket of Fireball whisky bottles” and drink the alcohol while operating his pontoon boat, prosecutors said. He also stopped at a bar where he consumed two additional shots before the impact.
After the crash, Stevenson told a witness he had been drinking and that his life was finished, prosecutors stated. He stayed at the scene and was transported to Northwestern Medicine McHenry Hospital, where prosecutors say he refused blood tests and declined to provide urine samples. The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office initially responded to the incident in the 1800 block of Fernwood Lane before the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Police Department took over the investigation.
Remembering a Selfless Veteran
Michelle Macias, Jablonska’s sister, said her sibling was “the most selfless and kind person you would ever meet,” adding that she “never [did] anything for herself, always for everybody else.” Jablonska joined the Marines right after finishing high school, her family said. She had a profound affection for dogs and frequently visited shelters to see the puppies, Macias recalled.
In honor of her dedication to animals, Jablonska’s relatives are now raising money for animals following her death. They have also voiced hope that the justice system will hold the defendant accountable. Macias said the family is trusting the legal process to “do right by her so nobody else gets hurt.”
Official Responses and Next Steps
Lake County Sheriff John D. Idleburg released an extensive public statement on Tuesday regarding the incident, expressing his frustration and sorrow over what he characterized as irresponsible and avoidable conduct on the Fox River that resulted in one death and left another individual critically wounded. The sheriff noted the victims were simply enjoying time on the region’s waterways used for recreation and extended his sympathies while expressing hope for the recovery of the survivor.
Stevenson Crane Company, the family-owned business in Bolingbrook where the defendant was employed, also issued a statement offering condolences to those affected by the tragedy. According to the company, Stevenson was employed in equipment sales, did not occupy any management position, and his job has since been ended. Company officials stressed that the incident had no connection to any business-related operations.
A judge ordered Stevenson to remain in custody pending trial, with his next scheduled court appearance on August 5, and he remains incarcerated. Officials have not provided further updates regarding the fiancé’s medical status. The investigation continues as the case moves forward toward Stevenson’s next scheduled court appearance.
