RedactedNarrative: Single vessel accident in a mangrove cut between Cowpens Cut and Toiletseat pass. The vessel struck the mangroves while exiting the cut. Two persons on board sustained injuries. Female passenger was airlifted to hospital due to injuries. 
  
  Operator1 began the conversation by giving us an overview of the incident from the beginning of the day until when the boating accident occurred. He and his wife launched their vessel at approximately 1500 hours from their neighborhood home owners park on Largo Sound, Key Largo, Monroe County, Florida. They drove south along the bay side to the sandbar at Whale Harbor Channel, Islamorada, Monroe County, Florida. He informed us he and Occupant had spent some time with their friends at the sandbar and left to go have a meal. They ate at the Ocean View Bar and Restaurant and then began to make their way home up the bay side. He then said they were taking short cuts that he knew of and had been using for years. As they approached the accident location, Operator1 asked his wife to take hold of the wheel. He wanted to stand up to see if there were snook on the flat near the channel in which the accident occurred. He said he had been through that cut 100 times or more, but this time he misaligned the boat for his wife to maintain their heading. V1 was heading from the Southwest to the Northeast through the cut. Shortly after he gave her the wheel he looked forward and knew a collision may happen. He sat back down behind the wheel of the boat, reduced the throttle, and steered the boat to port. He said his boat did not respond, and they collided with the mangrove trees. He said he thought the poor vessel response may be because he had used the jack plate to lift the motor vertically to run through the shallow water. He also informed us he was distracted leading up to the accident as he left the helm to look over the port side for snook. He did try to avoid the collision by placing himself back behind the wheel and attempted to alter his course and speed. Operator1 told us he typically operates his vessel at approximately 3000-3500 RPM, traveling at approximately 30-35 MPH. His 19 foot Hewes was equipped with a Yamaha 300 VMAX and a prop with a 25” pitch. Post collision with the mangroves, Operator1 ended up lying straight back with his feet forward and his head towards the engine. He informed us Occupant had ended up face down with her head facing forward and feet hanging off the transom of the starboard side of the vessel. 
   
  Operator1 also received a broken hand requiring surgery to set and a cast.; Occupant suffered a Broken cheek bone in face requiring surgery. Laceration just below nose. One broken hand requiring setting and cast.