HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. — 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 one 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.