Silicon Valley boss charged for 145mph crash that killed mother and daughter

A high-flying Silicon Valley exec has been charged with homicide for diving his Tesla at greater than 140 mph into stopped visitors in a fiery crash that killed a mom and her younger daughter.

Zachary Chernicky, 31, was arrested on July 13 and is charged with two counts of homicide in for the Dec. 2, 2025, crash in San Jose that killed Ivana Balistreri, 29, and her 1-year-old daughter, Lilliana. 

Prosecutors say Chernicky was driving 142 mph 15 seconds earlier than impression and was nonetheless dashing at about 102 mph when his Tesla slammed into the Lexus SUV that carried Balistreri and her toddler, in addition to the motive force, Balistreri’s fiancé and Lilliana’s father, Zack Martins.

Balistreri’s automobile was stopped in visitors, prosecutors cost. The San Jose mother and her daughter, who was simply two weeks shy of her second birthday, burned to loss of life within the fiery wreck that occurred at 10: 45 a.m. in clear climate.

Santa Clara County Deputy District Legal professional Marisa McKeown, who’s prosecuting the case, ripped Chernicky in an interview with The Publish.

“If individuals drive like this the pure final result is that any person’s going to die,” McKeown stated.

Prosecutors say Chernicky was dashing northbound in heavy visitors on Freeway 87 when he struck Balistreri’s automobile so arduous that each her and the automobile in entrance of them suffered main hearth and crash injury.

A fourth automobile was additionally broken within the crash however was in a position to drive away.

The causes of Chernicky’s extreme velocity remained unclear, McKeown stated. He suffered solely minor accidents within the crash.   

McKeown stated Lilliana was strapped in a toddler security seat behind Balistreri. Lilliana died simply two weeks shy of her second birthday.

Dramatic video of the scene reveals Martins, 33, attempting to avoid wasting Balistreri and Lilliana from their burning automobile. The would-be father from San Jose seems to ask a bystander to go for assist.

Balistreri’s household launched a web-based fundraiser to assist cowl bills that raised practically $108,000 of its $120,000 objective.

Balistreri’s household described her as sort, light, and energetic.

“She by no means judged, by no means gossiped, and liked everybody round her along with her entire coronary heart,” Balistreri’s household wrote. “Two vivid, harmless, loving souls have been taken from us far too quickly.” 

Chernicky seems smiling with a husky on his Fb profile. In posts on LinkedIn, mentioned the advantages of synthetic intelligence and stated he’s held jobs at Google and Mistral AI.

He additionally talks up software program for DJs he’s creating, which he shares in movies posted on-line.

“The clips have pulled in over 125,000 views in a month, and the individuals watching aren’t buddies,” Chernicky boasts.

Chernicky was ordered held with out bail at his arraignment Tuesday. He’s scheduled to return to court docket Aug. 25.

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