Tragic Incident: Drunk Boater Hits Woman at 80 MPH, Resulting in Fatal Decapitation

A TICKING time bomb drunk boater decapitated a woman after crashing into her at 80 miles per hour.

Richard Stevenson, 45, allegedly tore into a family’s vessel at terrifying speeds, leaving a woman dead in a horror collision on an Illinois river.

Richard Stevenson, 45, allegedly tore into a family’s vessel at terrifying speeds while drunk Credit: McHenry County Government Center Surveillance camera showed Stevenson speeding on the river before the crash Credit: CBS

The repeat alleged drink-driver is accused of ploughing his 31-foot pontoon into the back of the smaller vessel in a no-wake zone after a day of heavy drinking on the Fox River.

The force of the crash was so catastrophic that the 48-year-old victim was decapitated and pronounced dead at the scene on Saturday.

Her husband was also injured in the devastating smash.

Prosecutors said Stevenson was hurtling across the water at up to 80mph when he ploughed into the 20-foot Crownline at around 2.30pm.

At a detention hearing on Monday, Deputy Chief Brian Miller branded the suspect “a ticking time-bomb”.

He told the court: “This man was a ticking time-bomb and that bomb went off this past Saturday on the Fox River.”

A judge ordered Stevenson to remain behind bars while he awaits trial.

When officers arrived, Stevenson was found standing beside his pontoon boat near the treeline.

A 48-year-old woman was decapitated in the drunk driving crash Credit: CBS Her husband was also injured in the devastating smash Credit: CBS

He was taken to Northwestern Hospital in McHenry, where tests allegedly showed a blood alcohol concentration of around .200 – two and a half times the legal driving limit.

Two other passengers who had been on board the pontoon had already left before police reached the scene.

Witnesses told investigators Stevenson had been drinking throughout the day.

Surveillance footage also allegedly captured him tearing across the Fox River and the adjoining Chain O’Lakes at blistering speeds in the hours before the fatal smash.

Stevenson has now been charged with reckless homicide and two counts of aggravated driving under the influence.

Prosecutors revealed the crash was far from his first brush with the law.

Court records show Stevenson had previously been charged with drink-driving three times, as well as reckless driving on three occasions. He also has four misdemeanor speeding offences.

He is due back in court on August 5.

McHenry County State’s Attorney Randi L. Freese expressed condolences to the victim’s family following the tragedy.

She said: “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.

“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.”