RedactedNarrative: On June 21, 2018 at approximately 1:40 p.m. Operator1 was operating his vessel (LA 5499EE) in Bayou Gravenburg.  Operator1 was accompanied by his son and one other person.  The three men were returning from a fishing trip, when the vessel struck a submerged object.  The force of the object caused lower unit of the engine to lift out of the water and the tiller handle out of Operator1's hand.  When the lower unit returned to the water without Operator1 controlling the engine, the vessel made a hard turn to starboard (right).  
  
  The vessels struck a cypress tree on the port (left ) bow causing the vessel to turn to starboard and then striking another cypress tree aft of midship extremely close to where Occupant2 was seated.  Both occupants were ejected from the vessel.  When Occupant2 was ejected, he struck a cypress tree, fracturing his pelvis.  Operator1 was thrown to the bottom of the vessel.  The top of the cypress trees were dead and fell into the vessel onto Operator1's shin causing compound breaks to his left shin.  All three subjects were wearing life jackets and the safety lanyard was worn.
  