A US Marine has been remembered as ‘selfless’ by her sister after she was decapitated when a man with a history of DUIs smashed his speeding boat into hers.
Richard Stevenson, 45, was arrested on Saturday after his 31ft Southbay pontoon boat overtook a 20ft Crownline vessel on the Fox River in McHenry, about 59 miles outside of Chicago, the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office said.
Magdalena Jablonska, 48, died instantly, the McHenry County Coroner’s office told the Daily Mail.
Jablonska has been remembered by her three siblings as an unselfish public servant who loved animals, with her brother launching a Gofundme in her name to donate to a local animal shelter.
Michelle Macias revealed to NBC Chicago that her sister joined the Marines ‘straight out of high school’ and kept the spirit of helping others in her life.
‘She would go above and beyond for anyone, there was no one like her, the most selfless and kind person you would ever meet,’ Macias said. ‘She’s never done anything for herself, always for everybody else.’
Macias added that her sister – who emigrated to Chicago from Poland as a child – ‘loved dogs and loved the shelters for the puppies.’
‘Magdalena was the sunshine in every place she went, and one of her favorite things to do was help dogs in need,’ brother Marcin wrote on her Gofundme page.
US Marine Magdalena Jablonska (pictured) has been remembered as ‘selfless’ by her sister after she was decapitated when a man with a history of DUIs smashed his speeding 80mph boat into hers
Richard Stevenson, 45, was arrested on Saturday after his 31ft Southbay pontoon boat overtook a 20ft Crownline vessel on the Fox River in McHenry, about 59 miles outside of Chicago , the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office said
Marcin also shared a heartfelt tribute about her to Facebook.
‘I miss and will always love you. I always thought we were going to grow old together like brother and sister should. You always helped everyone no matter the cost. I will pray for you every day,’ he posted.
Her other brother, Michal Macias, posted an image on Facebook of a memorial he made in her honor.
‘I don’t know who sent these flowers but thank you. They are beautiful. Also want to thank you who have checked in on me and my family,’ he wrote as flowers, images of Jablonska, a prayer statue, and a candle filled the screen.
He continued: ‘Please keep my family in your prayers light a candle for Magdalena Maria Jabłońska, I’ll share funeral arrangements when we figure that out. I LOVE YOU my beautiful sister.’
Macias added that the family is hoping that Stevenson, described by police as a ‘ticking time bomb,’ is punished to the extent of the law.
‘We’re giving our hopes and faith that they will do right by her,’ she said.
Jablonska was a US Marine Corps veteran, according to her Facebook profile. She lived in Des Plaines, about 40 minutes away from the Fox River.
Jablonska has been remembered by her three siblings as an unselfish public servant who loved animals, with her brother launching a Gofundme in her name to donate to a local animal shelter
Both of Jablonska’s brothers have also remembered her in social media posts
The fatal crash took place around 2.30pm on Saturday, about an hour and 45 minutes after Stevenson’s boat was seen zooming back and forth in the water on a neighbor’s security camera, ABC 7 reported.
The vessel then made its way back north, and nearly a minute later, the locals heard the collision, according to the outlet.
Stevenson had entered a no-wake zone before striking the back of the green boat at 80mph and driving over Jablonska in the passenger’s seat, leaving her decapitated, prosecutors said.
She was pronounced dead at the scene, and as of Monday, her remains were still missing, according to the Lake & McHenry County Scanner.
Her husband, who has not been named, was in the same boat as her. He was taken to the hospital, and his condition remains unclear.
A witness found Stevenson after his boat washed up on a riverbank.
He was then taken to the hospital, where his blood alcohol level measured 0.20, which is 2.5 times the legal limit, according to prosecutors.
Two others were aboard Stevenson’s boat, but they fled the scene before emergency personnel arrived, prosecutors said.
Joblonska was a US Marine Corps veteran, according to her Facebook profile. She lived in Des Plaines, about 40 minutes away from the Fox River
The fatal crash took place around 2.30pm, about an hour and 45 minutes after Stevenson’s boat was seen zooming back and forth in the water on a neighbor’s security camera
They were later interviewed by police, telling them that Stevenson allegedly took multiple shots of Fireball whiskey that day.
Stevenson has been charged with two counts of aggravated driving under the influence- causing death and one count of reckless homicide.
He has also been charged with driving under the influence of alcohol on three prior occasions, reckless driving on three prior occurrences, and he previously committed four misdemeanor speeding offenses, the prosecutor’s office said.
‘This man was a ticking timebomb and that bomb went off this past Saturday on the Fox River,’ Deputy Chief Brian Miller said at Stevenson’s detention hearing.
State’s Attorney Randi L. Freese said he and his office are determined to pursue justice for Jablonska and her family.
‘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,’ she said.
Stevenson is believed to be connected to Stevenson Crane Service, a local, family-run business that offers crane and aerial material rentals, heavy hauling, and rigging services, public records showed.
