Jose Fernandez Crash, Victims Reeked of Booze Officials Say

The boat crash that killed Miami Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez and 2 other men is now a homicide investigation -- as officials believe the person who was driving the boat was boozed up.

TMZ Sports has obtained the search warrant affidavit into the Sept. 25th incident -- in which investigators say all three bodies pulled from the water "had a strong odor of alcohol emanating from them."

Investigators also say the crash scene is consistent with a high speed collision -- and the "recklessness" of the driver "was exacerbated by the consumption of alcohol."

Investigators have not named the person they believe was driving the boat -- but whoever it was is now suspected of Boating Under the Influence and Vessel Homicide.

TMZ Sports broke the story ... Fernandez had been partying at the American Social waterfront bar shortly before the crash. Officials say they found a receipt for alcohol from the bar in the pocket of one of the victims and it was time and date stamped showing the purchase was made during the early morning hours of Sept. 25th.

The Miami Herald reports that most of Jose's friends suspect the MLB star was driving because it was his boat, he was the most experienced driver and had just met one of the other passengers.

Investigators say they are currently looking into GPS devices from the boat to help get info about the rate of speed at the time of the crash. They also want the engines which have black boxes.

As for toxicology -- the tests are complete but the results have not been released yet.