Why no one has been charged after six pedestrian deaths in Richmond

The big picture: Edwards said pedestrian death investigations take time because of how much evidence is required.

• The process begins with police determining why a crash occurred and whether it meets a criminal threshold of probable cause under state law.
• Police are currently executing search warrants on cell phones and analyzing electronic data recorders on the cars, he said.
• Edwards declined to comment on whether cellphone use contributed to any of the six deaths.

Zoom in: "There is no one single cause behind each of these tragedies," Avula said.

• Some were in crosswalks. In another, the person was crossing mid-block.
• In the case of longtime Valentine museum director Bill Martin, who a driver killed last month, the car was moving at "very low speeds."

What's next: Once they're done investigating, RPD's findings will be sent to the Commonwealth's Attorney's office, which ultimately decides whether to pursue criminal charges or traffic citations.

• Edwards said charges depend on whether the CA can prove criminal conduct beyond a reasonable doubt — a standard he called "challenging" to meet.

What we're watching: What happens once the investigations are complete.