San Jose man charged with murder after 142 mph Tesla crash

A San Jose man has been charged with murder for allegedly driving his Tesla at extreme speeds before causing a fiery crash that killed a young mother and her toddler daughter last year. The Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office announced the charges against Zachary Chernicky, 31, on July 17, following a seven-month investigation into the December 2, 2025, collision.

Chernicky faces two counts of murder in the deaths of Ivana Balistreri, 29, and her daughter, Lilliana. The crash occurred around 10 a.m. on northbound State Route 87 near Curtner Avenue in San Jose. According to prosecutors, data recovered from Chernicky's Tesla showed he was traveling at 142 mph approximately 15 seconds before impact. He slowed to 126 mph five seconds before the crash and was still moving at 102 mph when he struck the rear of a Lexus that had stopped in traffic. The posted speed limit on that stretch of highway is 65 mph.

The force of the collision caused the Lexus and another vehicle to erupt in flames. Balistreri and her daughter, who was just days away from her second birthday, were trapped and died at the scene. The Lexus was being driven by Balistreri's fiancé, Zachary Martins, who...