Marlins Pitching Ace Was Piloting Boat At Time Of Fatal Crash

MIAMI BEACH, FL — Florida investigators have determined that Marlins ace José Fernández was captaining the 32-foot Sea Vee when it crashed into a South Beach jetty at a high rate of speed on Sept. 25, 2016, killing himself and two others on board.

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Investigators said they found sufficient evidence to suspect Fernandez of boating- under-the-influence manslaughter and vessel homicide, both second-degree felonies. The investigation also suggested that Fernandez had violated a number of other state laws in piloting his boat, "Kaught Looking," which slammed into the Miami Government Cut jetty at 3:02 a.m. and flipped upside down.

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"Fernandez's impairment and manner of operation caused the accident which resulted in his death and the death of his occupants, Eduardo Rivero and Emilio Macias," according to a report released on Thursday by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, which investigates boating accidents in the state.

Investigators also determined through digital forensic analysis of the vessel's GPS units that the boat was traveling 65.7 miles per hour just before impact with the north side of Government Cut jetty.

The Miami-Dade Medical Examiner's Office toxicology report showed Fernandez's blood alcohol level to be 0.147 percent and noted the presence of cocaine.

The boat had been traveling southwest from the Atlantic Ocean and allided into the north jetty as it attempted to enter Government Cut Channel at a "very high rate of speed," the report found. All three men were thrown from the boat and died as a result of their injuries.

The 46-page report released to the public included a diagram showing Fernandez behind the center console of the twin-engine vessel equipped with 350 Horsepower Mercury Outboards based on DNA traces recovered from the steering wheel and the throttle. His fingerprint was also found on the steering wheel.

"Femandez operated V-I with his normal faculties impaired, in a reckless manner, at an extremely high rate of speed, in the darkness of night, in an area with known navigational hazards such as the rock jetties and channel markers," the report concluded, referring to the boat as Vessel 1 or V-1.

"Fernandez also operated the vessel with the interior blue lights on and the clear vinyl windshield enclosure on, which based on my training and experience would likely have also interfered with his night vision capabilities."

The autopsy concluded that the 24-year-old athlete and his two passengers died of blunt force trauma and drowning.

At the time of the accident, the impact sent Fernandez' body forward with his legs hitting the Plexiglass lower switch panel of the center console causing it to snap, the report found.

"As Fernandez's body traveled forward, he hit the right side of his face on the dome navigational compass on top of the center console with such tremendous force that it fractured his mandible and maxilla (lower and upper jaw)," according to the report, which said that investigators also found dental fragments from Fernandez on the boat's compass.

"As the momentum of V-I ejected the occupants, Fernandez was thrown to the starboard (right) where he was pinned beneath the t-top as V-l rolled over," the report said. "There was no evidence found to indicate either Emilio Macias or Eduardo Rivero were possible operators of V- I ."

According to the report, Emilio Jesus Macias was standing near the front of the center console and was jolted forward before being thrown from the boat. Investigators could not find a match of his DNA anywhere on the console, steering wheel or throttles.

The location where his body was recovered near the bow of the vessel was also consistent with Macias having been toward the front of the center console at the time of impact.

Rivero was determined to have been standing behind the center console seat, the report found. He was thrown forward and up into a rod holder by the impact.

"The location where his body was recovered is consistent with him standing near the rear of the vessel when the vessel yawed and rolled, ejecting him out of the starboard (right) rear of the boat," according to the report.

Fernandez' teammates will wear number 16 on their uniforms throughout the upcoming season in honor of their fallen teammate.

Miami Marlins' Jose Fernandez looks out from the dugout during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants, Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2016, in Miami. The Marlins defeated the Giants 2-0. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)