Apple employee charged with murder after 100 mph crash near Cupertino HQ kills 2-year-old girl

A 2-year-old girl is dead, her babysitter is recovering from head and spinal injuries, and an Apple employee is facing a murder charge — after a Toyota Camry plowed into a stopped car at what investigators say was 100 mph, four times the posted speed limit, just steps from Apple's Cupertino headquarters.

Traveling northbound on Tantau Avenue at speeds exceeding 90 mph, Eric Chen Su, 37, rear-ended a stationary blue Chevrolet sedan at the junction of Tantau and Pruneridge avenues at 12:01 p.m. on Friday, the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office said. He did not apply his brakes before impact, investigators said. The collision caused the vehicle to burst into flames; Good Samaritans pulled the child and her babysitter from the wreckage.

Riley Kathryn Howard, who had been secured in a child safety seat inside the Chevrolet, was transported to a hospital where she later died. The adult woman with her is recovering. Su suffered only minor injuries. His vehicle's speedometer was found stuck at 100 mph after the crash, a detail Santa Clara County Deputy District Attorney Rob Baker said made the murder charge 'unquestionably' appropriate.

The speedometer in the suspect's vehicle appeared to have been frozen at 100 at the time of the collision.— Rob Baker, Santa Clara County Deputy District Attorney

Video footage from Apple and witness accounts supported investigators' findings that Su was driving at unlawful and excessive speed, according to the sheriff's statement of facts. The crash occurred around lunchtime, when the area near Apple Park sees elevated vehicle, pedestrian, and bicycle traffic. Investigators noted that 'a reasonable person would know this time of day was busier than normal.' It was not confirmed whether Su was on a lunch break at the time.

What followed the crash drew particular attention from investigators. A sheriff's report obtained by SFGATE and cited by the New York Post described Su as 'erratic and insensible' in the immediate aftermath. According to deputies, Su showed no remorse upon learning the child had died; they characterized his behavior as 'inconsiderate' and 'insincere,' and said his responses during transport to a law enforcement interview were 'incoherent.'

Seated in a wheelchair, Su appeared before a Palo Alto judge on Tuesday to face a felony murder charge and a count of assault with a deadly weapon. His charges were upgraded from an initial arrest on suspicion of gross vehicular manslaughter, according to MacRumors and the Mercury News.

Apple confirmed Su worked at its Cupertino site but has not said whether he has been terminated or placed on leave. The company issued a brief statement.

Our hearts are broken by the tragic accident that happened outside of Apple Park Visitor Center. Our thoughts are with all of those grieving, and we are grateful for the care and support of the first responders.— Apple spokesperson

The case is now before the court. Investigators concluded that Su's speed demonstrated, in their words, a total disregard for the safety of others.

Why it matters — A toddler's death near one of the country's most prominent corporate campuses, a murder charge in a vehicle crash, and a suspect's reported lack of remorse raise urgent questions about road safety, corporate accountability, and how California law treats extreme recklessness behind the wheel.

Sources differ on Eric Chen Su's age: 37 (ktvu.com) vs 38 (nypost.com)

Reported by macrumors.com, mercurynews.com, ktvu.com, nypost.com