One dead, three missing after boat sinks near Alcatraz
A somber tragedy unfolded near Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay where a boat capsize resulted in one confirmed fatality and three missing individuals, igniting a massive search operation involving multiple agencies. Live coverage from senior correspondent Claudia Cowan reveals that the 49-foot cabin cruiser, bearing 20 passengers for a memorial event, succumbed to the turbulent seas and overturned. Authorities are currently probing the incident’s specifics, while recovery teams grapple with the icy waters.
Over the weekend, what began as a routine outing turned deadly when an allegedly intoxicated boater with a DUI past collided with another vessel at 80 miles per hour, leading to a horrific accident that took the life of a woman, prosecutors disclosed.
Richard Stevenson, 45, is accused of recklessly driving his 31-foot pontoon boat into the rear of a 20-foot Crownline at alarming speeds within a no-wake zone, tragically ending the life of a 48-year-old woman and injuring her husband. The incident occurred on Illinois’ Fox River following a day of intense alcohol consumption on Saturday, July 25, around 2:30 p.m., as reported by the McHenry County State Attorney’s Office.
The woman, whose identity has been withheld, suffered a fatal decapitation and was pronounced dead on-site, as revealed during Stevenson’s court appearance on Monday. A judge has ordered him to remain in custody pending trial, as reported by Fox 32.
“This individual was akin to a ticking time-bomb, which ultimately detonated last Saturday on the Fox River,” stated Deputy Chief Brian Miller.
Prosecutors allege Richard Stevenson was operating a pontoon boat while intoxicated, traveling about 80 mph in a no-wake zone before crashing into another vessel. (McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office)
Prosecutors said Stevenson was later found in trees near the shoreline where his boat came to rest following the fatal crash. Two other people who had been aboard the pontoon left before law enforcement arrived.
Stevenson was taken to Northwestern Medicine McHenry Hospital, where prosecutors said testing showed his blood alcohol concentration (BAC) was approximately .236 shortly after the crash, or approximately a BAC of about .20 at the time of the collision.
Authorities also told the court Stevenson refused field sobriety testing, a breath test and initially refused a court-ordered blood draw.
The Fox River, as photographed from the Wilson Street bridge in Batavia, Illinois. (Raymond Boyd/Getty Images)
Multiple witnesses told officers that Stevenson had been consuming alcohol throughout the day while operating the boat and was driving at high speeds on both the Chain O’ Lakes and the Fox River just prior to crashing into the woman’s boat.
Further evidence presented at the hearing found that Stevenson has been charged with driving under the influence of alcohol on three prior occasions, reckless driving on three prior occasions, and previously committed four misdemeanor speeding offenses.
A McHenry County judge denied pretrial release Monday, July 27 for Richard Stevenson, who is charged in a fatal Fox River boat crash that killed a 48-year-old woman. (McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office)
Stevenson is charged with two counts of aggravated driving under the influence–causing death and one count of reckless homicide.
“Our rivers and lakes should be places where families can safely enjoy time together, not places where the reckless and impaired can turn a summer day into a tragedy. No family should have to endure the unimaginable loss suffered in this case,” McHenry County State’s Attorney Randi L. Freese said.
“Our prayers go out to the victim’s family, and while nothing can undo the tragedy that occurred on the Fox River, our office is committed to pursuing justice for her, her loved ones, and our community.”
Stevenson’s next scheduled court date is Aug. 5. Authorities have not released the identity of the woman who died in the boat crash.
News Media has reached out to Stevenson’s attorney.