Richard M. Stevenson, VP at Stevenson Crane Service appears in court after boat crash at Fox River, Lisle, Illinois left a woman dead, 2 others injured. Boat driver who was drinking Fireball whiskey before the crash was speeding and 3 times over the legal limit, with the crane executive having a history of prior DUI’s.
One more for the road… A Lisle, Illinois man alleged to have been driving 3 times the legal speed limit appeared in court on Monday after a two-boat collision on the Fox River in McHenry County over the weekend that left one person dead and two others injured.
Richard M. Stevenson, 45, was arrested and booked into the McHenry County jail at 4:30 a.m. Sunday, on charges of aggravated driving under the influence and reckless homicide along with felony aggravated DUI causing death according to jail records.
Authorities said the crash happened Saturday afternoon, just on 2.30 p.m, near South Fernwood Lane, south of the McHenry Dam, when two boats collided on the river. One person was pronounced dead at the scene, while two others were hurt.
VP makes Monday court appearance where it was revealed he was drinking Fireball Whiskey leading up to deadly crash
At the time of the crash, Stevenson is alleged to have been speeding and ‘traveling at full throttle,’ in a no-wake zone, Shaw Local reported.
During a Monday court appearance, prosecutors alleged Stevenson was drinking Fireball whiskey before the crash and, after it, refused breath, blood or urine tests. Prosecutors also said Stevenson has a history of DUIs, of fleeing and eluding police and of driving at high speeds. His last DUI conviction was 2005, prosecutors stated.
Prosecutor Brian Miller said Stevenson was ‘entirely reckless,’ continued to engaged in reckless behavior and now he’s ‘murdered someone.’
Leading up to the tragedy, Stevenson is alleged to have disregarded a person on his boat who said he was driving too fast.
Illinois crane executive with previous DUI’s
Stevenson, who owned the larger boat involved in the crash, has been identified as the Vice President at his family company, Stevenson Crane Service, Inc. The Bolingbrook-based company advertises itself as a leader in crane rentals, aerial and material handling rentals, and rigging and heavy haul services.
Witnesses said the collision occurred after the driver of a large, triple-engine boat was speeding on the Fox River. The boat hit a smaller, white boat near the McHenry Dam, leading to one fatality. Three people on board the larger boat fled the scene before a bystander chased down one of them while another fled in an Uber.
Authorities said Stevenson did not flee the scene of the crash.
Investigators have said the Illinois Department of Natural Resources is leading the case. Details about the victim’s identity have not been released
