Hi, Vicky,
This is very sad indeed. I heard about Jose Fernandez on the news this
morning. One of our Dodger players Puig was a very close friend of the
pitcher. We had just played the Miami Marlins a couple of weeks ago.
Rosie
On 9/25/2016 2:08 PM, Vickie wrote:
Pitching ace Jose Fernandez, 2 others, killed in boating accident
Tim Healey and Mike Clary, Sun Sentinel
on
Sep 25, 2016
Published in
Baseball
Jose Fernandez, the Miami Marlins' ace pitcher and one of the brightest young stars
in baseball, was found dead early Sunday morning after a boating accident, the team
and Coast Guard officials said.
The U.S. Coast Guard said in a news release that three people, including Fernandez,
were killed in the crash, off Government Cut.
"A boat crew from Coast Guard Station Miami was heading out on a law enforcement
patrol at approximately 3:30 a.m. Sunday when they passed a jetty along Government
Cut and discovered an overturned 33-foot center console boat on the jetty with three
deceased aboard," the Coast Guard news release said.
The names of the other two people who died were withheld until next of kin was notified.
Lorenzo Veloz, a spokesman for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission,
said the agency was called to the crash at 3:15 a.m.
"It was a severe impact," Veloz said.
The other two victims were male, neither a professional athlete, Veloz said.
The victims were all between the ages of 24 and 27, he said. Fernandez was 24.
"They found a boat that was up against the jetties," Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Chief
Todd Garofalo told Miami's WSVN. "They did do an initial search and they found three
victims -- two on top of the water, one underneath the boat and they had unfortunately
passed away."
At a news conference Sunday morning at the Coast Guard Base Miami, Veloz said the
impact suggested speed was a factor.
.. "It does appear that speed was involved due to the impact and severity of it," Veloz
said.
He said there was no indication of alcohol or illegal drugs.
None of the victims was wearing a life jacket, Veloz said.
Fernandez fled his native Cuba in 2008 and became a high school star in Tampa. He
was the Marlins' first-round pick (14th overall) in 2011.
He was a two-time All-Star and the 2013 National League rookie of the year. Through
his four-year career he posted a 38-17 record and 2.58 ERA.
He was also the Marlins' biggest draw, with attendance and television ratings consistently
rising on the days he pitched.
Sunday's Marlins home game against the Atlanta Braves was canceled.
"The Miami Marlins organization is devastated by the tragic loss of Jose Fernandez,"
the team said in a statement. "Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this
very difficult time."
Though Sunday's Marlins game was canceled, several fans showed up at Marlins Park
to pay respects, some carrying flowers.
––––
(Staff writer Linda Trischitta contributed to this story.)
(c)2016 Sun Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
Visit the Sun Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) at www.sun-sentinel.com
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May God bless you now, and evermore!
