Stevenson’s boat, the lawsuit says, “literally flew over the top of [Telmni’s watercraft] and, in the process, one or more of the outboard sterndrives, pontoon tubes, or attached propellers did, in fact, cause a decapitation injury, thus killing Plaintiff Magdalena Jablonska, and causing physical and mental injuries to Plaintiff, Alan Telmni.”
A recently-filed wrongful death lawsuit accuses an Illinois man of recklessly operating a pontoon boat under the influence of alcohol before causing a fatal crash that took the life of a former U.S. Marine from Des Plaines.
According to The Chicago Tribune, the lawsuit seeks at least $50,000 in damages for the estate of the late Magdalena Jablonska and her surviving fiancé, Alan Telmni, who was at her side at the time of the accident.
The Tribune notes that the suspected culprit, 45-year-old Ronald M. Stevenson, is currently facing charges for driving under the influence and reckless homicide. Authorities say that Stevenson, upon testing, was found to have a blood alcohol level more than twice the legal limit. He is being held in a McHenry County jail pending a court appearance scheduled to take place later this month.
The lawsuit claims that Stevenson was driving his 31-foot “tritoon” boat at speeds of about 63 knots (75 miles per hour) when the boat crashed into the back of Telmni’s smaller, slower-moving boat.
Stevenson’s boat, the lawsuit says, “literally flew over the top of [Telmni’s watercraft] and, in the process, one or more of the outboard sterndrives, pontoon tubes, or attached propellers did, in fact, cause a decapitation injury, thus killing Plaintiff Magdalena Jablonska, and causing physical and mental injuries to Plaintiff, Alan Telmni.”
The lawsuit seeks damages for the wrongful death of Jablonska, as well as compensation for Telmini’s physical injuries and ongoing mental distress.
“[Telmni] was not only physically struct by the boat on his left side, but he saw his beloved fiancé decapitated while she sat within inches of his person,” the lawsuit states.
NBC-Chicago reports that, prior to the accident, Stevenson had been charged with reckless driving on three prior occasions and had accrued at least four misdemeanor speeding offenses. Last month, McHenry County State Attorney Deputy Chief Brina Miller described Stevenson as a “ticking time-bomb.”
Mike Krauss, an attorney representing Joblanska’s estate, said that the lawsuit is about ensuring accountability.
“Our job is to find true justice, and it’s not just the person that was behind the wheel,” he said. “It’s everyone who put a hand on the decision and the circumstances of this horrific, tragic, avoidable accident.”
Sources
Family of woman killed in ‘tragic, avoidable’ Fox River boat crash files wrongful death suit
‘Reckless and dangerous’: Lawsuit filed in deadly Fox River boat crash
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