A devastating collision on San Jose’s Highway 87 claimed the lives of a mother and her baby, heightening concerns about vehicle safety. Ivana Balistreri, 29, and her one-year-old daughter, Lilliana, were killed when their Lexus burst into flames following a multi-vehicle pileup on Tuesday. The crash, which occurred around 10:40 AM near Curtner Avenue, also involved two Teslas, with one other car reportedly fleeing the scene, according to the Hoodline.
The California Highway Patrol reports that the accident resulted in both cars igniting; fortunately, the driver of a Toyota Sienna involved in the crash was unharmed and remained at the scene to cooperate with authorities. Alongside the tragic fatalities, the Lexus driver and one Tesla driver were hospitalized with undisclosed injuries, as recounted by the San Francisco Chronicle. The CHP has since asserted that neither alcohol nor drug impairment appears to be a factor in this tragedy.
In the aftermath of the crash, the bereft family has turned to the community for help through a GoFundMe page, which reads, “Our hearts were shattered when Ivana Balistreri and her beautiful baby girl, Lilliana, were tragically killed in the Highway 87 accident involving a Tesla. Losing them has destroyed our family in a way words can barely express.” These heart-wrenching words were reported by KRON4 and echo through the corridors of collective grief, as the family seeks donations for funeral costs and legal support…