The driver of a pickup truck that struck and killed a Livonia teenager last fall has been cleared of criminal wrongdoing.

William Schniers was traveling north on Merriman through West Chicago on a green light and did not appear to be driving too fast when the pickup hit Christopher Kempa the morning of Nov. 20, said Mike Cox, supervisor of the homicide unit at the Wayne County prosecutor's office.

"There was nothing to show that the driver did anything wrong," Cox said.

The accident occurred under dark lighting conditions, and Kempa was wearing dark clothing, Cox said. A police report suggests that Schniers' view of Kempa, who was crossing Merriman, may have been blocked by two vehicles stopped for a red light that turned green as Schniers approached.

Schniers, in a 1998 Ford Ranger, made a lane change to go through the intersection, past the stopped vehicles, in the right-hand lane, the report said. Kempa, 16, a junior at Franklin High School who was on his way to class, was struck at the northeast corner of the intersection, a step or two from the curb.

Witnesses told police the teen was in the middle of the intersection when the light turned green for traffic on Merriman. Police estimated that he had started crossing the road five seconds after the "do not walk" light began flashing.

Adam Kempa, Chris' father, said his family is disappointed with the decision not to charge Schniers.

The Kempas have filed a negligence suit against Schniers, of Livonia. Citing problems with the traffic signal at the intersection since the accident, they are also considering legal action against Livonia and the county, which has jurisdiction over the signal.

"The truth will come out eventually," Adam Kempa said.

County officials say there was no indication of a problem with the signal at the time of the accident.

Cox was sympathetic toward the Kempa family, but said the teen's death was "a tragic accident."

"It's natural people want to find someone at fault," Cox said. "I feel horrible for the Kempas."

Witnesses, Cox said, said Schniers was traveling with the flow of traffic, between 35 and 40 mph. The speed limit on that stretch of Merriman is 40 mph.

Police estimated Schniers' speed at between 36 and 43 mph. "It was consistent with what the people driving behind him said," Cox said.

Schniers, 26, did not return phone calls on Wednesday.