The Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office has charged a Silicon Valley software developer and startup founder with murder in connection with a deadly car crash on a California highway. Zachary Chernicky, 31, was arrested and charged with two counts of murder after prosecutors say he drove his Tesla at more than 140 mph before plowing into stopped traffic.
The crash, which occurred on December 2, 2025, in San Jose, California, resulted in the deaths of a mother and her young daughter. The victims, Ivana Balistreri, 29, and her 1-year-old daughter, Lilliana, were killed when their Lexus burst into flames after being struck by Chernicky's Tesla. Lilliana was strapped into a child safety seat behind Balistreri and was just two weeks shy of her second birthday.
Prosecutors claim that data recovered during the investigation shows Chernicky was driving at excessive speeds in the moments leading up to the crash. According to the investigation, Chernicky's Tesla was traveling at 142 mph 15 seconds before impact, 126 mph five seconds before impact, and still moving at about 102 mph when it slammed into the stopped Lexus.
Chernicky was arraigned Tuesday and ordered held without bail. He is scheduled to return to court on August 25. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) expressed hope that the arrest represents an important step toward justice for the victims' family, who continue to grieve.
The CHP also used the case to warn motorists about the dangers of excessive speed. "Do not speed. Speeding costs lives," the agency said. "CHP will hold reckless drivers accountable."
Prosecutors emphasize that the criminal case centers on Chernicky's alleged speed, not the vehicle he was driving. "The law says that it is murder when someone shoots into a crowd," said the district attorney. "When someone is driving 140 mph, then the driver is the shooter and their car is the bullet."
Chernicky's background has also raised questions. A publicly available professional profile identifies him as the founder of CHURRDJ, a San Jose startup developing software for Pioneer DJ equipment. He previously worked in technical support roles at several companies, including Apple, Gong, Glean, and AI company Mistral AI.
