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Jose Fernandez and Friends Had "Strong Odor of Alcohol" When Rescue Divers Found Them

Investigators still don't know who was piloting the boat.
Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

According to the Miami Herald, a search warrant affidavit shows that when investigators found the bodies of Jose Fernandez and his two friends—Eddy Rivero and Emilio Macias—after they died in a boating accident, all three had a "strong odor of alcohol on them." Toxicology exams were performed and the reports are complete, however the results have not been released yet because it is still considered an open criminal investigation.

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The charges currently being investigated are boating while intoxicated and vessel homicide, however there are no other suspects mentioned in the affidavit, and since all three men died, there is no one to charge with a crime.

As we learn more about the night of the crash, the worst fears many had—that this was not just a tragedy, but a senseless tragedy—seem to be closer to the truth. Phone calls and text messages revealed that Fernandez was stressed and needed to blow off steam. Will Bernal, friend of Rivero's, told Jeff Passan that Fernandez was stressed out and wanted to go out to cool off, but he thought it was "a horrible idea." Bernal and Rivero exchanged texts where he told him to "try to keep Jose cool" and "Do everything you can to get [Fernandez] off the boat. Do whatever you can to get him on land."

Investigators are still not sure if Fernandez was piloting the boat when it crashed, but the affidavit also said they found evidence to suggest it was being recklessly driven at a high rate of speed "exacerbated by the consumption of alcohol."

[Miami Herald]