Eric Chen Su charged with murder after 90 mph crash killed a toddler
Prosecutors say the Apple employee hit a stopped car near Apple's Cupertino HQ at over 90 mph without braking, killing 2-year-old Riley Howard.
Eric Chen Su, a 38-year-old Apple employee, has been charged with murder over a crash near Apple’s headquarters in Cupertino, California, that killed a two-year-old girl, ABC7 and KTVU reported. Santa Clara County prosecutors filed the murder charge, along with assault with a deadly weapon, on Tuesday, 10 November, and he appeared before a judge in Palo Alto.
His name became one of the top Google searches in the US overnight as the details of the case came out.
What investigators say happened
The crash happened on Friday, 6 November. Investigators say Su was driving at more than 90 mph in a 30 mph zone when he hit the back of a car stopped at a red light at Tantau and Pruneridge avenues, close to Apple Park. They say he did not brake before the impact.
The toddler, Riley Kathryn Howard, was taken to hospital and died. Her babysitter, who was driving, survived with head and spinal injuries. Su had minor injuries.
He was first arrested on suspicion of gross vehicular manslaughter. Prosecutors then raised it to murder, a charge that in California generally means they believe the driver acted with conscious disregard for human life, rather than simple carelessness. No plea has been reported yet, and he is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Apple’s position
Apple has not said whether Su is still employed or on leave. Reports differ slightly on his age: most say 38, while KTVU reported 37.
The next step is his arraignment, when he will formally answer the charges.
