Two prominent business owners, Charles 'Chip' Romer, 65, and Jennifer Luzzi, 59, died Saturday evening in a severe boat crash on Lake Havasu. The reservoir, situated on the Colorado River along the Arizona-California border, was the site of the incident where their 36-foot Douglas Marine boat collided with a peninsula.
The impact caused the vessel to become airborne before it landed upside down in a boat-in campsite north of Cattail Cove State Park, according to the Mohave County Sheriff's Office. Deputies found both Romer and Luzzi unresponsive near the overturned boat. Despite immediate resuscitation efforts by first responders, neither could be saved and were pronounced dead at the scene.
Luzzi, a mother of four, was a real estate agent based in Lake Havasu City, Arizona, affiliated with global firm Keller Williams and operating her own agency, The Jennifer Luzzi Group. Romer was the owner of Romer Beverage Company, a family-owned beer wholesaler and beverage distributor in Kingman, Arizona. He was also known as a successful boat racer.
A preliminary investigation by the sheriff's office indicates the boat was traveling at high speeds when it struck the landmass around 7 p.m. Saturday. Officials have not yet identified any contributing factors to the crash, and the investigation is ongoing. The connection between Romer and Luzzi has also not been revealed.
Keller Williams memorialized Luzzi on Facebook, describing her as an "integral and cherished member" of the firm whose "warmth, dedication, and vibrant presence touched the lives of so many." David Morse, CEO of Keller Williams Arizona Realty, called her "a staple in the community, a leader within our company, and most importantly a valued mother and friend."
Romer was remembered by a friend, Neville Agass, as a "passionate person" who lived a full life as a businessman, pilot, race car driver, boater, and family man. The owners of Absolute Speed and Marine, a boat shop Romer frequented, described him as the "kindest, most inspiring person" with an unmatched "passion for horsepower" and noted his excitement about becoming a grandfather.
