Tragic End: Jose Fernandez's Boat Accident

On the morning of September 25, 2016, a boating accident off Miami Beach claimed the lives of Miami Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez and his two friends, Emilio Macias and Eduardo Rivero. The boat, a 32-foot vessel named Kaught Looking, was owned and piloted by Fernandez, and was travelling at a high speed of about 66 mph when it crashed into a jetty near Miami Beach. The investigation that followed revealed that Fernandez was intoxicated and under the influence of cocaine at the time of the accident, with his blood alcohol level being twice the legal limit.

Jose Fernandez was piloting the boat

Fernandez's fingerprint and DNA were found on the steering wheel, and his DNA was also found on the throttle of the boat, which was registered to him. The investigative report also noted that his girlfriend had texted one of the men on the boat, saying that Fernandez was "not in the best state of mind" and that they had recently argued.

Despite the evidence, Fernandez's attorney has disputed the findings of the investigation, claiming that the pitcher was framed and that the probe was botched from the start. He contends that FWC officers misinterpreted injuries, conducted a biased investigation, and ignored the possibility that someone may have slipped drugs into Fernandez's drink. The attorney suggests that Fernandez may have been at the back of the boat, looking at his phone, after handing off the wheel to one of the passengers.

However, the FWC stands by its findings, stating that their investigators "completed a thorough and comprehensive investigation of this tragic incident." The report concluded that Fernandez operated the vessel with his faculties impaired, in a reckless manner, and at an extremely high rate of speed in an area with known navigational hazards.

The boating accident resulted in the deaths of Fernandez and his two friends, Emilio Macias and Eduardo Rivero. The three men were ejected from the boat during the crash and died from blunt-force trauma and drowning. The tragedy shocked the baseball world and left the Miami Marlins organisation and the South Florida community grieving.

The boat crashed into a jetty

On September 25, 2016, a 32-foot boat owned and piloted by Miami Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez crashed into a jetty at Government Cut, near Miami Beach. The boat, named "Kaught Looking", was travelling at a high rate of speed, estimated at 65-66 miles per hour, when it struck the rock jetty in the early morning hours. The impact caused the vessel to overturn completely, coming to rest upside down on top of the rocks.

Fernandez and his two passengers, Emilio Macias and Eduardo Rivero, were all killed in the crash. Their bodies were found near South Pointe Beach on Government Cut, ejected from the boat during the collision. The three men died from a combination of blunt-force trauma and drowning, with Fernandez pinned under the boat, Macias thrown from the vessel, and Rivero discovered underwater on the north side of the jetty.

Investigations into the accident revealed that Fernandez was intoxicated and speeding at the time of the crash. His blood alcohol concentration was measured at .147, nearly twice the legal limit, and he also had cocaine in his system. DNA evidence and fingerprints placed Fernandez at the helm of the boat, and investigators concluded that he violated several state laws, including boating under the influence manslaughter, vessel homicide, and reckless or careless operation of a vessel.

The tragedy shocked the baseball world and the Miami community, as Fernandez was a rising star in Major League Baseball and a cultural hero to many in South Florida's Cuban community. His death, along with that of his two friends, left a lasting impact that is still felt today.

Alcohol and drugs were a factor

On the morning of September 25, 2016, a 32-foot boat owned and piloted by Miami Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez crashed into a jetty off the coast of Miami, killing him and his two passengers, Emilio Macias and Eduardo Rivero. Investigators determined that alcohol and drugs were a factor in the fatal crash.

Fernandez, Macias, and Rivero had spent time at American Social bar on the Miami Rivera, where they purchased two bottles of Don Julio tequila and other drinks. Toxicology reports showed that Fernandez had a blood alcohol content level of .167, double the legal limit, and had cocaine in his system.

Investigators also found that Fernandez's DNA was on the steering wheel and throttle, and his fingerprints were on the steering wheel. The boat was traveling at about 66 mph when it struck the jetty, and the physical injuries to Fernandez's body matched the damage to the boat's center console.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's report concluded that Fernandez "operated [the boat] 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 rock jetties and channel markers."

The families of Macias and Rivero filed wrongful death lawsuits against the Fernandez estate, seeking $2 million each. While the negligence case was settled in August 2018, the terms of the civil settlement remain confidential.

The boat was travelling at high speed

On the morning of September 25, 2016, a 32-foot boat owned and piloted by Miami Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez crashed into a rock jetty near Miami Beach. The boat, named "Kaught Looking", was travelling at a high speed of about 66 mph when it struck the jetty, causing it to overturn completely.

Fernandez and his two passengers, Emilio Jesus Macias and Eduardo Rivero, were all killed in the crash. The three men were ejected from the boat and died from a combination of blunt-force trauma and drowning. Fernandez's body was pinned under the boat, while Macias was thrown off the boat and found in a tidal pool next to the jetty. Rivero was discovered underwater on the north side of the jetty, his head and chest trapped under a boulder.

Investigators determined that Fernandez was legally drunk at the time of the crash, with a blood-alcohol concentration of .147, nearly twice the legal limit. In addition, Fernandez had cocaine in his system and was speeding, with the boat travelling at an extremely high rate of speed in an area known for navigational hazards. The blue interior lights and a vinyl windshield enclosure likely interfered with his night vision, making it difficult to see the hazards ahead.

The high-speed crash had devastating consequences, not only resulting in the tragic loss of life but also leaving a lasting impact on the families, friends, and the wider community.

The boat, travelling at a speed far above the limit, was unable to avoid the fixed navigational hazard of the jetty, resulting in a collision of extreme force. The consequences of this high-speed journey were tragic and far-reaching, altering the course of lives and leaving a permanent mark on the hearts and minds of those affected.

The boat was named Kaught Looking

On the morning of September 25, 2016, a 32-foot boat named "Kaught Looking" crashed into a jetty near Miami Beach. The vessel was owned by Miami Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez, who, along with his two friends, Emilio Jesus Macias and Eduardo Rivero, died in the accident.

Fernandez, a Cuban-born baseball star, had escaped communist Cuba as a teenager and risen to become the Marlins' franchise marquee pitcher. He was a cultural hero to many in South Florida's Cuban community and beyond. His life and career came to a tragic end when the boat he was piloting crashed into the jetty at Government Cut, a site that had seen several fatal boat crashes that year.

"Kaught Looking" was travelling at a high speed of about 66 mph when it struck the jetty in the early morning hours, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's final incident report. The boat was found upside down, and all three men were ejected and died from blunt-force trauma and drowning.

Investigators concluded that Fernandez was piloting the boat and that drugs and alcohol were a factor in the crash. His fingerprint and DNA were found on the steering wheel, and his DNA was also detected on the throttle. The report stated that Fernandez's blood alcohol content was nearly twice the legal limit, and he had cocaine in his system.

The tragedy of Fernandez's death was felt deeply by the Miami community and the baseball world, where he was a beloved figure. The Miami Marlins organization, teammates, and fans mourned the loss of a young star whose life and career held so much promise.

Frequently asked questions