MIAMI, Florida (AP) – A woman died and four others were injured early Saturday after an overloaded go-fast boat repeatedly rammed a U.S. Coast Guard vessel off the Florida Keys, authorities said.

The Coast Guard attempted to intercept the 36-foot (11-metre) go-fast boat with 31 Cubans and three smugglers aboard around 6:30 am, Coast Guard spokesman Petty Officer James Judge said.

The boat ignored orders to stop about 40 miles (65 kilometres) south of Key West, Florida, and rammed into the Coast Guard vessel more than five times, Judge said. Coast Guard officials then fired two shots into the vessel’s engine to disable it, he said.

“The boat was bouncing all over the place. The seas were pretty rough and they actually rammed the Coast Guard boat,” said Judge.

One woman sustained a head injury and severe bruising to the face. She lost consciousness as she was receiving medical attention and was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital at 8:34 am.

A pregnant woman aboard the go-fast boat was hospitalised, though her condition was not immediately known and three men were treated for minor injuries aboard the Coast Guard vessel.

“The boat was severely overloaded,” Judge said. “All those add up for dangerous possibilities.”

The remaining migrants were still on board the Coast Guard cutter and will be processed as usual, Judge said, adding that authorities detained the three smugglers.