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Jose Fernandez: 10 Years Since Tragic Boating Death
26 Sep
Summary
- Jose Fernandez died in a boating crash 10 years ago.
- He was piloting the boat under the influence of alcohol and cocaine.
- Teammate Dee Strange-Gordon honored him with a home run.
Friday marks a decade since Miami Marlins star pitcher Jose Fernandez tragically died in a boating crash. On September 25, 2016, Fernandez was piloting a boat at high speed when it collided with a rock jetty near Miami Beach. The crash resulted in the deaths of Fernandez and two other passengers.
Investigations following the incident revealed that Fernandez had a blood alcohol level of 0.147, nearly double the legal limit, and cocaine was present in his system. He was found to be violating multiple boating laws, including Boating Under the Influence Manslaughter and Reckless Operation of a Vessel.
Fernandez, a two-time All-Star and NL Rookie of the Year, was a beloved figure in baseball. In the Marlins' first game after his death, teammate Dee Strange-Gordon hit a memorable leadoff home run in tribute to the fallen pitcher, who was honored throughout MLB.
