Jose Fernandez, Friends Had Odor of Alcohol at Time of Fatal Boat Crash

Jose Fernandez and two of his friends smelled of alcohol after divers pulled them from the wreckage following their fatal boat crash in September, a search warrant affidavit revealed, according to Julie K. Brown of the Miami Herald. 

Brown noted: "The toxicology tests for the young men are complete but have not been released by state investigators, citing an exemption in the public records law for open criminal investigations. Nor have the autopsies been released."

The affidavit also indicated that the driver of the boat was going at a fast speed and operating the vessel with "recklessness" that was "exacerbated by the consumption of alcohol," per Brown.

Per the affidavit, one of the men involved in the crash had a receipt from the American Social Bar & Kitchen, a waterfront bar in Brickell. Fernandez and the two friends arrived there at 12:55 a.m., according to Brown's report.

Fernandez and his two friends, Emilio Jesus Macias and Eduardo Rivero, died in the early morning of Sept. 25 when the pitcher's boat, "Kaught Looking," ran into the rocks of the Government Cut north jetty. 

It is unknown whether Fernandez was the driver of the boat; however, according to Brown, most of Fernandez's acquaintances believe he was driving "since he had just met Macias and Rivero's friends say he had little boating experience."

Fernandez spent the entirety of his MLB career with the Miami Marlins and was considered one of the best young pitchers in baseball.