San Jose, CA – On the evening of Tuesday, December 2, 2025, a fiery four-vehicle collision resulted in the deaths of Ivana Balistreri, 29, and her 1-year-old daughter, Lilliana, and led to the arrest of Zachary Chernicky, according to KRON.
The California Highway Patrol reports that the accident took place on Highway 87 in San Jose.
Authorities said the collision involved four vehicles, including two Teslas, both of which caught fire. Balistreri and Lilliana were passengers in a Lexus that also caught fire; both died as a result of the crash. The driver of the Lexus and a driver of one of the Teslas were hospitalized.
CHP officers conducted a months-long investigation to determine which driver caused the crash. Investigators determined that Chernicky, the driver of one of the Teslas, was at fault.
A warrant was issued for his arrest, and officers from the San Jose CHP office arrested him on Monday, July 13, 2026. CHP has not disclosed how Chernicky allegedly caused the collision.
A GoFundMe page created by Balistreri’s family described the loss of Ivana and Lilliana as devastating, stating that their deaths had shattered the family. The investigation remains ongoing.
San Jose Car Accidents and Wrongful Death Claims
California law requires all drivers to operate their vehicles with reasonable care to avoid causing collisions that endanger other motorists. When a driver is found to be at fault for a fatal multi-vehicle crash, that driver may face both criminal prosecution and civil liability for the resulting deaths, and a driver who violates traffic safety laws may be considered to have committed negligence per se, increasing their share of liability in the collision.
Regardless of the outcome of the criminal case, the families of Balistreri and Lilliana may have the right to pursue a wrongful death claim. A wrongful death claim can provide the families with compensation for funeral expenses, loss of financial support, loss of consortium, and other damages related to the fatal accident.
San Jose Wrongful Death Lawyer
If you or someone you love was harmed in an accident like the one described here, on Highway 87, contact a California wrongful death lawyer for any questions or to receive a no-cost, no-obligation case assessment.
