No criminal charges for Uber in Arizona death; police asked to further investigate driver

PHOENIX – Prosecutors announced Tuesday that they didn't find evidence to criminally charge Uber in the crash that killed a woman a year ago in Tempe. But it is leaving possible criminal charges against the autonomous car's operator back in Maricopa County officials' hands. Yavapai County Attorney Sheila Sullivan Polk's Office took the case at the request of Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery after he cited a potential conflict of interest. Polk in a Monday letter to Montgomery said her office would recommend that Tempe police further investigate to help Montgomery's office determine if any other charges should be filed against the driver. A report the Tempe Police Department released in June revealed 44-year-old Rafaela Vasquez, the operator of Uber's self-driving vehicle, was watching "The Voice" via a streaming service when the autonomous car hit 49-year-old Elena Herzberg on March 18 as she crossed a street outside of a crosswalk with her bike.