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New details emerge in Jose Fernandez's deadly boating accident

A day after 24-year-old Miami Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez was killed in an early morning boating accident, new details of the crash are being made public.

According to USA Today, Fernandez and two friends, identified by WSVN.com as Eduardo Rivero and Emilio Macias, died in a crash on Government Cut, a Miami Beach jetty that gives boats direct access to the ocean. The boat, a 32-foot SeaVee Center Console fishing vessel named the Kaught Looking, did not belong to Fernandez, and he was not driving it at the time of the crash. It belonged to one of the other men who died in the accident, though according to Lorenzo Veloz, an official with the Florida Wildlife Commission, Fernandez was often seen on the boat with Marlins teammates.

The boat was apparently traveling at full speed, which can be between 55 and 65 mph, when it hit the jetty, capsized, and landed upside down on the rocks.

Investigators inspect the overturned boat as it rests on a jetty after the crash that killed Jose Fernandez and two others on early Sunday morning. (AP Photo)
Investigators inspect the overturned boat as it rests on a jetty after the crash that killed Miami Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez and friends Eduardo Rivero and Emilio Macias on early Sunday morning. (AP Photo)

While it’s not clear what time the crash occurred, Veloz said in a press conference that the Coast Guard was called in at 3:15 a.m. when a patrol noticed the boat on the rocks. The jetty is low to the water, and it’s possible that the driver of the boat didn’t see the rocks in the darkness.

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Veloz confirmed to USA Today that Fernandez died as a result of the impact of the crash and did not drown. Even though none of the passengers were wearing lifejackets, due to the nature of the crash the lifejackets may not have helped them.

Veloz also said during the press conference that it didn’t appear that alcohol or illegal drugs were a factor in the crash, as none were found at the scene. However, they won’t know for sure until the toxicology report is made public. TMZ is reporting that the autopsies have been performed, but results have yet to be released.

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Liz Roscher is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email her at lizroscher@yahoo.com or follow her on twitter! Follow @lizroscher