Ivana Balistreri, 29, & Baby Lilliana, 1—San Jose Devastated by Freeway Inferno and Hit-and-Run

The profound silence in San Jose, CA, speaks volumes of the community’s sorrow following the devastating loss of Ivana Balistreri, 29, and her precious baby daughter, Lilliana, 1. The mother and child were killed in a catastrophic fiery multi-vehicle collision on Highway 87 on the morning of December 2, 2025. The sheer horror of the crash—which saw their Lexus engulfed in flames—has shattered their family, who are now enduring a grief compounded by anger and a desperate need for justice.

The Unimaginable Loss: A Mother and Baby Taken Together

There is no sorrow deeper than the simultaneous loss of a mother and her innocent, one-year-old child. Ivana Balistreri, at just 29, had her entire future wrapped up in the life of her daughter, Lilliana. The image of their family traveling together—their shared life ending in a violent, multi-car pileup—is an unbearable tragedy for their loved ones. Lilliana was a life barely begun, and Ivana a dedicated mother. The violence of the impact and the subsequent fire, trapping them in the vehicle, is a horrific, shocking incident that will forever define this devastating loss.

Justice Denied: The Call for the Hit-and-Run Driver

The trauma of the crash is intensified by the fact that the collision was a chaotic scene involving at least four vehicles, and tragically, a fourth vehicle reportedly fled the scene. To witness such destruction and choose to abandon the victims—a mother and a baby—is an act of profound cowardice and irresponsibility. The family is not only left to mourn but also to seek accountability, hoping that the ongoing California Highway Patrol investigation can identify the hit-and-run driver and bring them to justice.

Rallying Support: Healing Through Community Strength

We extend our deepest, most heartfelt condolences to Ivana’s fiancé, the injured driver, and the entire Balistreri family. As they face the crushing burden of funeral costs and the legal fight for justice, the community must rally to support them. May the memory of Ivana’s love and Baby Lilliana’s joy remain a shining beacon, guiding their loved ones through this unimaginable darkness.