A 45-year-old man has been charged in connection with a fatal boat crash on the Fox River in Illinois that killed a 48-year-old woman over the weekend.
Richard Stevenson is accused of operating his pontoon boat while intoxicated and at excessive speeds, striking the vessel carrying Magdalena Jablonska, a U.
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S. Marine veteran originally from Poland.
Prosecutors said Stevenson was driving at about 80 mph in a no-wake zone with a blood alcohol content of approximately 0.20, more than twice the legal limit in Illinois.
He faces charges of aggravated DUI and reckless homicide. A McHenry County judge denied him pretrial release, citing danger to the community.
Stevenson has a long history of DUI and reckless driving offenses, leading prosecutors to describe him as a "ticking time bomb."
Witnesses reported he consumed several shots of Fireball whiskey before and during the outing and ignored warnings to slow down.
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The crash caused blunt force injuries to Jablonska, including decapitation, according to the McHenry County Coroner's Office.
After the incident, Stevenson admitted to drinking and expressed despair. He remained at the scene and was later hospitalized.
Jablonska's sister, Michelle Macias, remembered her as selfless and kind. The family is raising funds for animal causes in her memory.
Stevenson's employer, Stevenson Crane Company, terminated his employment following the crash.
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He is scheduled to appear in court on August 5.
