- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
San Jose Man Charged with Murder in Deadly Sunnyvale Wrong-Way Crash
Victim Salome Cigarrero Guevara was on her way home from work at Denny's when the fatal collision occurred.
Apr. 15, 2026 at 11:37pm
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
The grim aftermath of a fatal wrong-way crash exposes the human cost of reckless driving on local roads.San Jose TodayThe Santa Clara County District Attorney's office has charged a 34-year-old San Jose man with murder for a wrong-way crash in Sunnyvale that killed a 52-year-old woman who was on her way home from work at a Denny's restaurant. The fatal collision happened on April 9 at the intersection of Central Expressway and Commercial Street.
Why it matters
Deadly wrong-way crashes on highways and major roads are a serious public safety issue, often resulting from impaired or reckless driving. This case highlights the tragic consequences when these types of crashes occur, and the legal system's response in charging the driver with murder rather than a lesser offense.
The details
According to the Santa Clara County District Attorney's office, on April 9 around 11:55 p.m., Brian Burke, 34, of San Jose, was driving his Ford F-150 pickup truck the wrong way on Central Expressway when he collided head-on with a Jeep Compass being driven by Salome Cigarrero Guevara, 52, of Mountain View. Guevara was pronounced dead at the scene after having to be extricated from her vehicle. Burke was found seated in his damaged truck and has now been arraigned on a murder charge.
- The fatal wrong-way crash occurred on April 9, 2026 around 11:55 p.m. in Sunnyvale, California.
- Burke was arraigned on the murder charge on Monday, April 15, 2026.
The players
Brian Burke
A 34-year-old San Jose resident who has been charged with murder for the wrong-way crash that killed Salome Cigarrero Guevara.
Salome Cigarrero Guevara
A 52-year-old Mountain View resident who was killed in the wrong-way collision while driving home from her job at a Denny's restaurant.
Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office
The prosecuting agency that has charged Brian Burke with murder for the fatal wrong-way crash.
What’s next
The judge will decide on June 2 whether to allow Burke to be released on bail as the murder case proceeds.
The takeaway
This tragic case underscores the devastating impact of wrong-way driving and the legal system's willingness to pursue the most serious charges, including murder, when these types of crashes result in a loss of life. It raises broader questions about road safety, impaired driving laws, and how to prevent such senseless incidents in the future.
