No charges in fatal fire hose accident
No criminal charges will be filed in the death of an elderly woman who was struck by a fire hose dangling from a passing Cambridge fire engine last month, Middlesex County District Attorney Gerard T. Leone Jr.’s office said yesterday.
Gertrude “Trudy’’ King, 82, was standing in the median at Western and Massachusetts avenues in Central Square on Jan. 26 when she was knocked to the ground by an errant hose from Cambridge Fire Department Engine No. 2. The engine’s crew was responding to a call at the time and the vehicle’s emergency lights and siren were on.
King underwent emergency surgery but later died at Massachusetts General Hospital.
“Based on the facts and evidence that have been developed during the investigation conducted by the Cambridge Police Department and the office of the Middlesex district attorney, there is insufficient evidence that a crime was committed,’’ Leone’s office said in a statement.
The end of the criminal investigation leaves open the possibility that King’s family will sue the city over her death.
“While this matter does not rise to the level of criminal negligence nor culpability, we defer to the City of Cambridge regarding whatever remedial measures might be appropriate under these circumstances,’’ the district attorney’s office said.
King’s family has declined to comment on any potential civil action.
Conflicting reports about the criminal investigation surfaced on Feb. 8, when King’s relatives came forward, saying the district attorney’s office informed them that no criminal charges would be filed.
Leone’s office denied that assertion at the time, saying the investigation was ongoing.
King, who never married and had no children, doted on her nephew and three nieces. Active and independent, she took daily walks and enjoyed taxi rides into Central Square to shop, relatives and friends said.
King’s nephew, Joseph, did not return calls last night seeking comment.
John M. Guilfoil can be reached at jguilfoil@globe.com. 
