An executive from Silicon Valley is facing murder charges following a tragic incident where he allegedly drove his Tesla at over 140 mph, colliding with traffic and resulting in a deadly crash that killed a mother and her young daughter.
Zachary Czernicki, aged 31, was taken into custody on July 13 and charged with two counts of murder related to a crash on December 2, 2025, in San Jose that claimed the lives of Ivana Balistreri, who was 29, and her 1-year-old daughter, Liliana.
According to prosecutors, Czernicki was traveling at speeds of 142 mph just 15 seconds before impact and reached around 162 mph at the moment he struck Balistreri’s SUV, which was carrying her and her fiancé, Zach Martins, who is also the father of Liliana.
Balistreri’s vehicle was reportedly stopped in traffic when the collision occurred. The fiery wreck took place at about 10:45 a.m. on a clear day, leading to the deaths of both Balistreri and her daughter, who was only two weeks shy of her second birthday.
Marisa McCune, Deputy District Attorney of Santa Clara County, expressed her concerns about Czernicki’s reckless behavior during an interview, noting, “When people drive like this, it’s a given that someone is going to die.”
Prosecutors stated that Czernicki was northbound on busy Interstate 87 when he crashed into Balistreri’s vehicle, which caused it and the car ahead to burst into flames. Another car was also damaged but managed to drive away from the scene.
McCune mentioned that the reason behind Czernicki’s excessive speed remains unclear, although he himself sustained only minor injuries from the incident.
Witnesses reported seeing Zach Martins, Balistreri’s fiancé, attempting to rescue them from the burning vehicle, desperately asking bystanders for assistance.
In response to the tragedy, Balistreri’s family initiated an online fundraising campaign to help cover expenses, and they’ve raised nearly $108,000 towards their $120,000 goal.
Balistreri’s family characterized her as a kind and gentle person who radiated love. They shared sentiments about the loss of “two bright, innocent, loving souls taken from us far too soon.”
Czernicki, who worked in software, had a social media presence where he talked about his career in technology, mentioning his time at Google and his current endeavors, which included software aimed at DJs.
During his court appearance, Czernicki was ordered held without bail, with a follow-up court date set for August 25.
