Full Breakdown
Fatal Fox River Boat Collision Claims a Lisle Man with Reckless Homicide
7/27/2026, 8:51:54 AM
Core Event
On Saturday, July 25, 2026, a pontoon boat traveling at high speed collided with another vessel in the 2400-block of Riverside Drive West on the Fox River near McHenry, Illinois. The impact killed a middle-aged woman whose identity was not released and left two other occupants of the struck boat in critical condition. A third person, identified as 45-year-old Richard M. Stevenson of Lisle, fled the scene. Emergency crews from the McHenry Township Fire Protection District arrived at 2:31 p.m., closed the river from the McHenry Dam south to South Stilling Drive, and reopened it at approximately 6:15 p.m.
Background & Context
The crash occurred in a narrow stretch of the river that local residents describe as “dangerous.” The area’s limited width and blind corners have historically contributed to boating accidents, according to witnesses.
Timeline
- July 25, 2026, ? 2:30 p.m. – Collision occurs; river closed shortly thereafter.
- 2:31 p.m. – McHenry Township Fire Protection District dispatches firefighters (Battalion Chief Chris Kozel).
- ? 3:30 p.m. – River closure extended from the McHenry Dam to South Stilling Drive.
- ? 6:15 p.m. – River reopened after investigation.
- July 26, 2026, 4:30 a.m. – Richard M. Stevenson booked on charges of reckless homicide and aggravated driving under the influence (DUI).
Data & Statistics
- Four people were involved in the incident.
- One fatality (female passenger).
- Two injured passengers were transported to Northwestern Medicine McHenry Hospital in stable condition.
- One occupant of the pontoon (Stevenson) was arrested; the other sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
- Witness video captured the pontoon traveling at roughly 70 mph before impact.
Official Statements & Responses
Illinois state Sen. The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the river closure and noted that the investigation had been transferred to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Police. Battalion Chief Chris Kozel reported that 18 district personnel, along with sheriff’s deputies, IDNR officers, and the coroner’s office, responded to the scene.
Verbatim Quotes
What’s Next
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources Police continue to investigate the cause of the collision and the role of the arrested driver. No further legal actions have been announced beyond Stevenson’s existing charges.