A California Tesla driver has been charged with murder after prosecutors say he was traveling at speeds over 140 mph when he slammed into the back of a stopped vehicle on Highway 87, killing a mother and her young daughter who both burned to death in the fiery crash.
Background
The collision occurred on the northbound side of Highway 87 in Santa Clara County around 10 a.m. on December 2, 2025. Ivana Balistreri, 29, was stopped in traffic with her daughter Lilliana in the vehicle when Zachary Chernicky, driving his Tesla at a fraction of the speed limit behind her, struck her Lexus so forcefully that both vehicles erupted into flames, according to the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office.
Prosecutors say telemetry data recovered from Chernicky's vehicle revealed he was traveling at 142 mph just 15 seconds before impact, 126 mph five seconds before the crash, and still moving at 102 mph when he "plowed into the back" of Balistreri's stopped Lexus. The posted speed limit on that stretch of Highway 87 is 65 mph.
"The law says that it is murder when someone shoots into a crowd," District Attorney Jeff Rosen said in a statement. "When someone is driving 140 mph, then the driver is the shooter and their car is the bullet."
The Charges
Chernicky, 31, has been charged with two counts of murder in connection with the deaths of Ivana Balistreri and her daughter Lilliana, who was just two weeks shy of her second birthday at the time of the crash. He was arraigned last Tuesday and remanded to jail without bail.
The force of the collision caused major fire damage to both Balistreri's Lexus and the vehicle in front of her that was also stopped in traffic. Chernicky suffered minor injuries in the crash and fully recovered. The victims were pronounced dead at the scene.
"[Balistreri] and her child were burned to death in the crash," the DA's office stated. "The speed limit is 65, if the road is clear."
Key Takeaways
- Zachary Chernicky allegedly drove at speeds up to 142 mph on Highway 87 before crashing into a stopped Lexus driven by Ivana Balistreri.
- Both Balistreri, 29, and her daughter Lilliana, nearly 2 years old, died in the fiery collision on December 2, 2025.
- Chernicky has been charged with two counts of murder and is being held without bail following his arraignment.
- His next scheduled court appearance is August 25.
- A GoFundMe for Balistreri's family described her as "one of the purest spirits" and Lilliana as their "sweet Lilly Bean."
What's Next
Chernicky remains in custody without bail pending trial. He faces significant prison time if convicted on both murder charges. Prosecutors have indicated they will pursue the case based on evidence including vehicle telemetry data demonstrating Chernicky's extreme speeds in the moments leading up to the fatal collision.
"Losing them has destroyed our family in a way words can barely express," according to a statement on the GoFundMe page established for Balistreri's family. "Two bright, innocent, loving souls were taken from us far too soon."