Investigators say Eric Chen Su drove more than 90 mph in a 30 mph zone before striking a stopped car near Apple Park.
CUPERTINO, CA — An Apple employee has been charged with murder after investigators said he drove at more than 90 mph before rear-ending a car stopped at a red light near the company’s headquarters, killing a 2-year-old girl and seriously injuring her babysitter.
Eric Chen Su, 38, faces charges of murder and assault with a deadly weapon in connection with the Nov. 6 crash at North Tantau and Pruneridge avenues, near the Apple Park Visitor Center. The child, identified by authorities as Riley Kathryn Howard of San Jose, was taken to a hospital after the collision and later died from her injuries. Her babysitter suffered head and spinal injuries.
The crash happened at about 12:01 p.m. as Su drove a Toyota Camry north on Tantau Avenue, according to investigators and court records cited by several Bay Area news organizations. Authorities said the Camry was traveling more than 90 mph in an area with a posted 30 mph speed limit when it struck the rear of a Chevrolet that had stopped at the intersection. Investigators said evidence showed Su did not apply the brakes before impact.
A deputy’s statement of facts said the Camry’s speedometer was found stuck at 100 mph after the collision. Investigators also reviewed video from Apple and gathered witness accounts as they examined the vehicle’s speed before impact. The evidence led authorities to conclude that Su had been driving at an unlawful and excessive speed. The speedometer reading alone does not establish that the car was traveling exactly 100 mph at the moment of impact.
The Chevrolet caught fire after the collision. Witnesses told KGO-TV that bystanders rushed toward the vehicle and helped remove Riley and the woman before emergency crews transported them to a hospital. Riley had been secured in a child safety seat, according to investigators. Su suffered comparatively minor injuries and was later taken into custody.
Su was initially arrested on suspicion of gross vehicular manslaughter, but prosecutors later filed the more serious murder and assault charges. Santa Clara County Deputy District Attorney Rob Baker said prosecutors believed a murder charge was warranted because of the speed involved. No plea was entered during Su’s first court appearance Tuesday, according to local news reports.
The intersection is beside the Apple Park Visitor Center and close to Apple’s main Cupertino campus. Investigators noted that the crash happened around midday on a weekday, when the area commonly has vehicle, bicycle and pedestrian traffic. The deputy’s statement said Su, as an Apple employee who worked in Cupertino, would have been familiar with conditions around the site.
Apple issued a statement after the crash saying the company’s “hearts are broken” by what happened outside the visitor center. The company expressed sympathy for those grieving and thanked first responders for their care and support. Apple has not publicly detailed Su’s employment status following the charges.
A memorial was established near the crash site for Riley after her death. The criminal case remains pending, and the charges are allegations that prosecutors must prove in court. Su is scheduled to return to court Nov. 30 for a plea hearing, according to reports on the case.
Author note: Last updated Nov. 12, 2026.