A quiet Saturday on the Fox River turned deadly when two boats collided south of the McHenry Dam, killing one person and injuring two others, authorities said. Search crews scoured the tight stretch of water for hours and hauled out both mangled vessels, briefly shutting down the river near Riverside Drive while emergency teams and investigators worked the scene.
Crash details and emergency response
According to CBS Chicago, the collision happened around 3 p.m. near Riverside Drive, just south of the dam, and involved two boats. At least one overturned and another ended up driven onto the riverbank. The McHenry Township Fire Protection District told the station that four people were involved. Paramedics pronounced one person dead at the scene and took two others to nearby hospitals, including one patient who required advanced life support.
The McHenry County Sheriff's Office and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources shut down the Fox River from the dam to South Stilling Drive while divers, firefighters and deputies operated in the narrow channel. Recreational boaters were turned away as crews focused on recovery and evidence collection.
Witness accounts and scene
Witnesses who spoke with Lake & McHenry County Scanner described a frightening sequence in a posted no-wake zone. They said a larger, high-powered boat was speeding through the area when it rode up and over a smaller craft. Some people on the bigger boat then reportedly left the scene, either on foot or in a ride-share vehicle, before officers reached the riverbank.
The Scanner reports that the McHenry County Coroner's Office responded and took custody of the deceased for an autopsy. Neighbors told reporters they jumped in to pull people from the water and helped stabilize the smaller boat until first responders arrived, turning a residential shoreline into an improvised triage area.
Investigation and legal questions
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is leading the investigation, with local fire crews and the sheriff's office assisting, CBS Chicago reports. State boating laws require operators involved in crashes to offer help and to report the incident. The department's recreational boating report notes that failing to stop or report when a death occurs can bring felony charges under Illinois law.
Officials have not released the name of the person who died or the injured survivors, and they have not said whether anyone has been taken into custody or charged. For now, investigators are focused on reconstructing the crash and confirming accounts from the crowded shoreline.
Local reaction and what to expect
People who live along this part of the Fox River told reporters that the stretch south of the dam is tight, busy and often plagued by boaters who push the speed limit despite the posted rules. The narrow channel and limited sightlines have long been a worry, they said, and Saturday's collision was the kind of nightmare scenario they had hoped would never happen.
The river reopened a few hours after the crash, according to a statement from the McHenry County Sheriff's Office that was cited by Patch. Authorities asked people to steer clear of the immediate area while investigators finish collecting evidence and interviewing witnesses.
Anyone who saw the collision or its aftermath is urged to contact local law enforcement. Those accounts could help officials confirm what unfolded on the water and determine whether criminal charges or other enforcement actions are warranted.
