RedactedNarrative: Vessel 1 was northbound in the ICW approaching Cowpens Cut just east of Islamorada when for unknown reasons vessel 1 veered sharply out of the ICW eastbound then cut hard to port causing it to go up into the Mangrove tree shoreline.  No injuries reported.  Vessel 1 salvaged the following morning.  Incident witnessed by approaching vessel but could not identify vessel 1 operator due to lighting conditions. 
  
  Witness advised vessel was traveling at 40 mph at time of incident. 
  On 10-03-21 Vessel 1, a triple engine powered center console vessel, was traveling northbound in the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) approaching Cowpens Cut and ICW daybaord red 73 at the mouth of the cut (Islamorada, Monroe County).  Witness 1 was traveling southbound in Cowpens Cut in the ICW and saw vessel 1 approaching at an estimated 40 mph.  For unknown reasons Witness 1 said Vessel 1 veered sharp to starboard/East and then cut hard to port/North and ran up into the Mangrove tree lined shoreline.  Witness 1 said he thought Vessel 1 was going to avoid Cowpens Cut and take the nearby Toilet Bowl Cut, a local channel, in the dark and at a high rate of speed.  Witness 1 could not see who was operating but said he saw Vessel 1 go into the Mangroves and then heard the engines revving loud "as if they were trying to back out of the Mangroves."  
  
  USCG Station Islamorada arrived on scene along with Tow Boat US and assisted removing the female adult operator/co-owner, a male adult passenger/owner, and an infant child.  No injuries were reported.  All occupants of Vessel 1 were taken back to USCG Station Islamorada so this investigating officer could conduct his investigation.  
  
  Vessel 1 operator stated she was operating the vessel (hands on the helm) while holding her infant daughter in her arms.  For unknown reasons, just prior to the accident meaning less than a 1 minute prior, Vessel 1 operator stated she handed her child over to her husband who was standing next to her.  She doesn't know how she ended up in the Mangroves, missing Cowpens Cut.  Operator 1 has a weekend home in the area and has operated this vessel numerous times over the years in this area.  She had no explanation for what happened and advised not seeing Witness 1 approaching.  She claimed to be driving the boat at only 20 mph.  Witness 1 is a licensed aircraft pilot and flies for a local governmental agency and can accurately visually estimate speeds through his professional training and experience. 
   
  Passenger 1 of Vessel 1 said his wife was operating the vessel at the time of the accident but that "she was not responsible.....no one was responsible as it was an accident."  He refused being at the helm at the time of the accident, not being the operator or in charge, and his version of the incident was almost identical to his wife's.  Passenger 1 was administered landside sobriety testing but refused to cooperate.  He said his wife's hands were on the steering wheel at the time of the accident and not his.  He never mentioned that he was holding their infant child at the time of the impact with the Mangrove trees.  With no independent "wheel witness" Operator 1 was found to be responsible for causing the accident based on her and her husband's statements.
  