Full Breakdown
Fox River Boat Crash Claims Life of Marine Veteran Magdalena Jablonska
7/29/2026, 3:28:05 PM
Core Event
On a Saturday on the Fox River near the 1800-block of South Fernwood Lane in McHenry, Illinois, a 30-foot pontoon boat operated by 45-year-old Richard Stevenson collided with a smaller Crownline vessel. Prosecutors say Stevenson was traveling at about 80 mph in a no-wake zone, striking the rear of the Crownline and decapitating the passenger seated in its front seat. The victim, identified as 48-year-old Magdalena Jablonska of Des Plaines, suffered blunt-force injuries and died from the trauma. Her fiancé was injured, and her dog survived. Stevenson remained at the scene, was taken to a hospital, and a blood draw indicated a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.20—approximately 2.5 times Illinois’s legal limit of 0.08. He has been charged with reckless homicide and aggravated driving under the influence and is being detained pending trial.
Key Figures & Groups
- Magdalena Jablonska — 48-year-old U.S. Marine veteran, immigrant from Poland, resident of Des Plaines.
- Richard Stevenson — 45-year-old operator of the pontoon, employee (equipment-sales department) of Stevenson Crane Company, a Bolingbrook-based family business.
- Stevenson Crane Company — Issued a statement confirming Stevenson’s termination and noting he held no leadership role.
- McHenry County Coroner’s Office — Conducted the autopsy and confirmed Jablonska’s cause of death.
- Lake County Sheriff John D. Idleburg — Released a public statement on the crash.
Timeline
- Saturday (date not specified) – Stevenson’s pontoon strikes the Crownline vessel; Jablonska is killed.
- Monday – Prosecutors present evidence at a court hearing; Stevenson is ordered detained without release.
- Later this month – Stevenson is scheduled to appear in court for a further hearing.
Data & Statistics
- Speed: Prosecutors and a witness reported the pontoon traveling at roughly 80 mph, far exceeding the speed allowed in the no-wake zone.
- Blood-alcohol level: 0.20, more than double the legal limit of 0.08.
- Prior offenses: Between 1997 and 2005, Stevenson accumulated three DUI arrests, four misdemeanor speeding convictions, three reckless-driving convictions, and multiple fleeing-and-eluding incidents. A 2023 citation recorded him driving 26–34 mph over the limit.
- Victim profile: Jablonska was a Marine veteran who joined the service straight out of high school and was known for her involvement with animal shelters.
Official Statements & Responses
Stevenson Crane Company said Stevenson’s employment in the equipment-sales department was terminated following the incident and that he “held no leadership role.”
Lake County Sheriff John D.
Why It Matters
The crash underscores the hazards of high-speed boating in designated no-wake zones on Illinois’s recreational waterways. Community members have rallied to honor Jablonska’s memory, raising funds for animal shelters in her name while calling for stricter enforcement of boating safety regulations.
Verbatim Quotes
- “She would go above and beyond for anyone, there was no one like her, the most selfless and kind person you would ever meet,” — Michelle Macias
- “We are giving our hopes and faith they will do right by her so nobody else gets hurt,” — Michelle Macias
What’s Next
Richard Stevenson remains detained without release. He is slated to return to court later this month, where further proceedings will determine his pre-trial status and address the charges of aggravated DUI and reckless homicide.
