San Jose, California (December 2, 2025) — A mother and her young daughter, identified by family as Ivana Balistreri and Lilliana, were killed Tuesday morning in a fiery multi-vehicle collision on northbound Highway 87 near Curtner Avenue in San Jose. At least two other people were injured in the crash, which shut down the freeway for several hours.
Incident Details: According to the California Highway Patrol, the collision happened just before 11 a.m. in the northbound lanes of Highway 87, south of downtown San Jose. Four vehicles were involved: two Teslas, a Lexus, and a Toyota Sienna minivan. Three of the vehicles, both Teslas and the Lexus, caught fire after the crash, with video from passing drivers showing flames engulfing the cars.
CHP officials said all three drivers of the burning vehicles were able to escape, but Ivana and Lilliana, who were passengers in the Lexus, were trapped and did not survive. Two other drivers from the involved vehicles were transported to the hospital with injuries, though the extent of those injuries has not yet been released. The Toyota Sienna sustained rear-end damage but was able to drive away from the scene. All lanes of Highway 87 were reopened by mid-afternoon after extensive closures and traffic backups.
Investigation: The California Highway Patrol is conducting a thorough investigation into the circumstances that led to the chain-reaction crash. Investigators are examining the scene for physical evidence, such as skid marks, gouge marks, debris fields, and the final resting positions of the vehicles, to determine the sequence of impacts. Because three of the vehicles burned, investigators will also carefully inspect the charred remains to understand how the fire spread and whether it resulted from fuel, electrical components, or impact damage.
CHP is expected to review any available dashcam video, freeway surveillance footage, and cellphone recordings from passing motorists to piece together how the vehicles were moving just before the collision. In a complex freeway crash like this, investigators typically evaluate speed, following distance, lane changes, and driver attention, while also ruling out impairment, mechanical failure, or hazardous roadway conditions.
Legal Considerations: Multi-vehicle freeway collisions that involve fire and multiple injuries are among the most complex cases under California law. Every driver on a high-speed roadway has a duty to maintain a safe speed, keep a proper following distance, and avoid sudden or unsafe maneuvers that can trigger a chain reaction.
If the investigation ultimately shows that one or more drivers failed to uphold that duty, whether through inattention, aggressive driving, or other negligence, the Balistreri family may have grounds to pursue a wrongful death claim to seek accountability and compensation. The other drivers may also have grounds to file personal injury lawsuits. Wrongful death and serious injury claims cannot restore what was taken, but they can help address funeral expenses, counseling, lost income, and the profound loss of love and companionship.
My deepest condolences go out to the families of Ivana and Lilliana Balistreri, and my sincere hopes for recovery go out to those injured in this heartbreaking crash.
Source: ABC7 News and NBC Bay Area