A Gloucester Fire and Rescue volunteer who fatally struck a skateboarder on Main Street while responding to an emergency call in her personal vehicle will not be charged in connection with the accident, the state police have announced.

Volunteer Karen Lee Jowers of Gloucester, was responding to an emergency call the night of May 5 when she struck Jonathon Jerome Johnson, 16, who the state police said was riding his skateboard down the middle of the road. Johnson was wearing dark-colored clothing at the time of the accident, which occurred on Main Street just north of Route 14, police said.

The Virginia State Police accident reconstruction team was called to the scene and conducted a thorough investigation, according to VSP spokesman Sgt. Michelle Cotten, and the evidence was presented to the local Commonwealth Attorney’s office. Cotten said Gloucester Commonwealth Attorney Robert Hicks reviewed the investigation and concluded that there is no probable cause for any criminal charges to be held against Jowers. 

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