Las Vegas NowNo charges in death of junior lifeguard in Calif.
Associated Press - November 10, 2009 9:45 PM ET
HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. (AP) - No criminal charges will be brought against a veteran marine safety officer who was piloting a boat that struck and killed a junior lifeguard near the Huntington Beach Pier in Southern California.
Orange County prosecutors reviewed the investigation by the sheriff's department into the July death of 11-year-old Allyssa Squirrell (Skwehr-EHL') and concluded it was an accident Tuesday.
Allyssa was 1 of about two dozen junior lifeguards who were practicing getting to swimmers in distress by doing an exercise known as a "speed drop" from a boat.
Lt. Greg Crow, who has 32 years of experience, turned the boat around and hit the girl. She died in surgery hours later.
It was the first death in the 45-year history of the junior lifeguard program in Huntington Beach.
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