IAFC-Safety, Health, and Survival

The Gloucester County Volunteer Fire and Rescue worker who struck and killed a teenage boy in May while responding to an emergency will not face charges, State Police announced Friday.

Gloucester Commonwealth's Attorney Robert Hicks reviewed a state police investigation into the May 5 accident and concluded there "is no probable cause for any criminal charges to be held against Ms. Karen Lee Jowers," who on May 5 struck and killed the teen on Main Street, according to a statement from State Police.

Jonathan Johnson, 16, a Gloucester High School student, was skateboarding south on Main Street just before 9 p.m. when he was hit by a van driven by Jowers, 56, a volunteer firefighter who was responding to a two-car collision less than a mile away on Route 14.

Volunteer firefighters and emergency medical technicians traveling in their personal vehicles, even if they are equipped with red and white strobe lights, are not allowed to speed down the road en route to accidents or fires, Gloucester Sheriff's Chief Dep. Darrell Warren told the Daily Press in an earlier interview.

Johnson was wearing dark clothing and a black hat and was skating in the middle of the road. Days after he was killed the footings for a new $40,000 public skate park were poured. The park on Route 14 has since been completed and is open to the public.