A high-speed catamaran went airborne after striking a peninsula on Lake Havasu, then slammed into a campsite north of Cattail Cove State Park, killing both people aboard on Saturday afternoon. The Mohave County Sheriff's Office has identified the victims as 65-year-old Charles Romer and 59-year-old Jennifer Luzzi, both residents of Lake Havasu City.
Responders were called to the shoreline just north of Cattail Cove State Park after receiving a call just after 7 p.m. on September 12, according to The Bee. The victims were found unresponsive and pronounced dead at the scene, as reported by FOX5 Vegas.
The Realtor.com profile identifies The Jennifer Luzzi Group as a ranked real estate team in Lake Havasu City. Her business presence in the community adds a painful layer to a crash that has left neighbors and clients alike processing the loss of a familiar local name.
Investigators Believe Boat Struck Peninsula Before Going Airborne
Deputies found a 2019 36-foot Douglas Marine catamaran overturned on land, and investigators believe the boat struck a large peninsula while traveling at a high rate of speed before becoming airborne and landing in a campsite north of the initial impact point, per FOX5 Vegas' reporting. The specific speed of the vessel at the moment of impact, along with whether mechanical failure or operator error was to blame, remains under investigation.
The vessel involved was a Douglas Marine Skater catamaran. The 36-foot hull came to rest on land after the crash, underscoring the force of the impact.
Camping Area Sees Heavy Weekend Traffic
Cattail Cove State Park sits near Lake Havasu and includes 61 serviced campsites plus primitive boat-in sites along the water, sites reachable mainly by boat. Weekend occupancy in the area reached 98 percent during the spring peak season, per an Elearning report on the park, meaning campers were likely present nearby when the boat came down.
The article's cited sources discuss Arizona boating rules.
Other Boating Incidents Have Been Reported
The fatal crash is a reported boating incident on Lake Havasu.
The Bee has reported on a boating-related incident. Investigators have not said whether toxicology results or environmental conditions played any role in Saturday's crash, and those questions remain open as the case continues.
