Startup boss charged with murder over claims he drove Tesla at 142mph and caused fireball crash that killed woman, 29, and her toddler daughter

By LAURA PARNABY, US SENIOR NEWS REPORTER Published: 22:12, 21 July 2026 | Updated: 22:22, 21 July 2026 A Silicon Valley startup founder has been charged with murder for allegedly fatally striking a woman and her toddler while driving his Tesla at more than 100mph.  Zachary Chernicky, 31, is accused of causing the fireball crash that killed Ivana Balistreri, 29, and her one-year-old daughter Lilliana at about 10am on December 2. Chernicky was speeding down Highway 87 at 142mph moments before the fatal crash, according to Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office.  The speed limit for the northbound stretch of the road is 65mph if traffic is clear.  Chernicky slowed his Tesla to 126mph five seconds before the collision, and was traveling at 102mph when he smashed into the back of Balistreri's Lexus, according to prosecutors.  The district attorney's office said the Tesla 'struck the victim's car so hard that both the victim's car and the car in front of them suffered major fire and crash damage.' Balistreri and her baby daughter 'burned to death in the crash,' while Chernicky suffered minor injuries, the office said.  Photographs of the aftermath show two cars burned to a crisp, with a third half-destroyed vehicle laying nearby. A pink sneaker was among the debris at the scene. Ivana Balistreri, 29, and her one-year-old daughter Lilliana died when a Tesla hit their vehicle at more than 100mph on Highway 87 in California at about 10am on December 2, 2025, prosecutors said Driver Zach Chernicky has been charged with two counts of murder and faces significant prison time if convicted Photographs from the scene show two cars burned to a crisp, with a third half-destroyed vehicle laying nearby in the aftermath Chernicky, of San Jose, California, was arrested July 13 and appeared in court the next day.  He was taken into custody without bail. He has not yet entered a formal plea.  Chernicky has been charged with two counts of murder and faces significant prison time if convicted.  'The law says that it is murder when someone shoots into a crowd,' Santa Clara District Attorney Jeff Rosen said.  'When someone is driving 140 mph, then the driver is the shooter and their car is the bullet.'   Balistreri's family remembered her as 'one of the purest spirits we have ever known' on a fundraising page to cover their legal fees as they fight for justice.  'Two bright, innocent, loving souls were taken from us far too soon,' the family wrote on GoFundMe.  'Ivana was truly one of the purest spirits we have ever known. She never judged, never gossiped, and loved everyone around her with her whole heart.  Balistreri's family remembered her as 'one of the purest spirits we have ever known' on a fundraising page to cover their legal fees as they fight for justice for the mom and her daughter Balistreri and her baby daughter 'burned to death in the crash', according to prosecutors  The aftermath of the crash was shown above, including a pink sneaker among the debris 'She was gentle, kind, and full of life. To lose someone so young, so pure, and so unbelievably special feels unbearably unfair. 'Baby Lilliana - our sweet Lilly Bean - brought so much joy in her short time here. Her smile, her sweetness, and her light will stay with us forever. 'This is the deepest pain our family has ever experienced.  'As we navigate this impossible loss, we are asking for support to help cover funeral expenses, legal fees, and to give Ivana and Lilly the services they deserve.' The family also appealed for anyone with information about the accident to come forward, including video evidence.  Chernicky is the founder of a software company for DJs, according to his LinkedIn.  He launched the firm, Chernicky Ventres LLC, three months after the accident, and previously worked as a technical support engineer for several companies in Silicon Valley.  The Daily Mail has reached out to Chernicky for comment.