Advertisement

Report: Jose Fernandez and friends smelled of alcohol after fatal crash

Miami Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez and his two friends who died in a boat crash in September smelled of alcohol after divers recovered their bodies, according to the Miami Herald.

That information comes from a search warrant affidavit obtained by the Herald. The warrant says investigators believe the driver of the boat was operating the vessel with a “recklessness” that was “exacerbated by the consumption of alcohol.”

The warrant, released by the Miami-Dade state attorney’s office Wednesday, also alleges that investigators found evidence that the driver of the vessel was running at a high rate of speed and with a “recklessness’’ that was “exacerbated by the consumption of alcohol.”

Toxicology reports have been performed and completed, but have not been released to the public at this time.

Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez died in a boat crash in September. (Getty Images/Christian Petersen)
Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez died in a boat crash in September. (Getty Images/Christian Petersen)

According to the affidavit, the crimes being investigated are Boating While Intoxicated and Vessel Homicide. It’s unclear whether charges will actually be filed, as all three men involved in the crash died. It is also not known who was piloting the boat at the time of the crash. No other suspects were named in the affidavit.

Fernandez’s death shocked the baseball world. The 24-year-old was seen as a rising star, and a pillar of the community in Miami. The Marlins honored Fernandez’s memory by wearing his No. 16 during the first game they played after his death.

More MLB coverage from Yahoo Sports:

– – – – – – –

Chris Cwik is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at christophercwik@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Chris_Cwik