No charges for driver who fatally struck 16-year-old North Ridgeville girl

NORTH RIDGEVILLE, Ohio (WOIO) - The driver who fatally struck a 16-year-old girl last November, will not face criminal charges, North Ridgeville police announced Friday.

Violet Gustafson died after being hit on Lorain Road, west of the intersection of Lear Nagle Road, on Nov. 17, 2025.

According to a news release, the case was forwarded to the Lorain County Prosecutor’s office for review and after reviewing the facts and evidence, they determined the driver was not at fault.

Gustafson was a student of North Ridgeville High School and Lorain County JVS.

Gustafson’s mom spoke to 19 News and said her daughter was working at McDonald’s and was on her break. She went to walk across the street to Starbucks to get a coffee when she was hit.

When police arrived on scene, they found Gustafson and immediately started first aid.

She was taken to St John Westshore in Westlake, where she was pronounced dead.

A close family friend told 19 News that Gustafson was a remarkable girl who was studying carpentry at Lorain County JVS.

“She lit up a room. Every room she lit up. You knew she was there. She made you feel as important as anybody else. but she was quick to put you in your place if you needed to be. She had done that to me a couple of times, but just a remarkable young woman she was,” said William St. John.

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