A talented software engineer was killed in a horrific multi-car crash in downtown San Francisco, with the crash also claiming the life of the couple's dog.
The horrific collision occurred Sunday evening when Mikhael “Misha” Romanenko, 27, and his girlfriend, Linh Luu, were driving to pick up relatives for a ride to the airport.
The pair were hit by a speeding Tesla driven by 66-year-old Jia Lin Zheng, which collided with their car after crashing into a Waymo robotaxi.
Seven others were also injured in the mangled wreck that destroyed lives.
Luu, who survived the crash but suffered serious injuries including broken bones and a concussion, recounted the heartbreaking moments before the tragedy and revealed how she had a terrifying premonition.
“I remember looking at him and saying, 'I love you,' and him saying, 'I love you too,' back to me,” she told ABC7. 'A moment later our lives changed forever.'
“I have a flashback of when I was back in the car and he was motionless,” Luu said through tears. 'It was like, “Oh my God, Misha,” but he didn't respond. That's all I remember.'
Luu blacked out during the crash and woke up in the hospital, where she claims to have instinctively known the devastating truth that her boyfriend and dog had both died.
Mikhael “Misha” Romanenko, 27, a talented software engineer, was killed in a horrific multi-car crash in downtown San Francisco
Mikhael 'Misha' Romanenko was traveling with his girlfriend Linh Luu in this white Lexus when the accident occurred that killed him
The impact involved multiple vehicles, including a white Waymo robotaxi
“You can feel their energy, and I didn't feel his. I couldn't feel Keeper,” she said, mourning the loss of the man she described as the love of her life.
“I feel like I'm in a really bad dream, and I'm trying to wake up from it so I can see him, hug him and tell him how horrible this nightmare is,” she said as she sobbed.
The couple had planned their future together. “He was a ball of joy: kind, smart and romantic,” she said. “He brought happiness to everyone around him.”
Despite her physical injuries, Luu left the hospital to attend Romanenko's funeral, determined to honor his memory.
“I want to live with a good heart, just like him,” she said. 'He was my everything. He was truly a special person who left a mark on everyone he met.”
The Tesla driver, Jia Lin Zheng, was arrested on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter, reckless driving causing injury, and speeding.
Although a blood alcohol test conducted hours after the crash did not indicate alcohol in Zheng's system, authorities are investigating whether drugs or other factors were involved.
District Attorney Brooke Jenkins emphasized the importance of a thorough investigation.
“It is critical that we take the time to diligently review all the evidence and gather as much information as possible so we can make the right charging decision,” she said in a statement.
Luu blacked out during the crash and woke up in the hospital, where she claims she instinctively knew the devastating truth that her boyfriend and dog had both died
Luu, right, blacked out during the crash and woke up in the hospital, where she claims to have instinctively known the devastating truth that her boyfriend and dog had both died
Both Mikhael 'Misha' Romanenko, 27, and the couple's dog, Keeper, were killed in the crash
The intersection of Sixth and Harrison, where the crash occurred, is a known accident hot spot
Luu, along with Romanenko's grieving family and friends, are demanding accountability. “He took away a very, very wonderful person,” she said. 'I want justice for Misha.'
Romanenko's mother, Julia, has also expressed her frustration with the city's increasingly dangerous roads.
'Something has to be done. Just knowing how many car accidents and collisions there are, it is very difficult to accept that this continues and causes so many people to suffer.
“It's a huge loss,” she said. “He spread so much joy and laughter. We receive so many memories from friends and families touched by his love.”
His mother, who works as a hospice nurse, has helped countless families cope with loss, but she confessed that nothing could have prepared her for the sudden death of her youngest son.
“Knowing it all, it's still the hardest thing I've faced in my life,” she explained.
'He still had so much to give. He was loved by all who knew him, and now he is gone.”
Romanenko's death was the city's second traffic fatality this year, while 41 lives were lost to accidents in 2024, more than the city's 34 homicides in the same period.
The intersection of Sixth and Harrison, where the crash occurred, is a known accident hot spot.
The couple had planned their future together. “He was a ball of joy: kind, smart and romantic,” she said. “He brought happiness to everyone around him.”
Romanenko's friends and loved ones say they remember his smile, his compassionate heart and the joy he brought to others
The Tesla driver, Jia Lin Zheng, 66, was arrested on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter, reckless driving causing injury and speeding
Officers could be at the scene of the devastating crash in San Francisco on Sunday evening
The couple planned to spend their lives together believing that there were many more sunsets ahead
“Something has to be done,” Julia told the San Francisco Chronicle. “Just knowing how many car accidents and collisions there are, it's very difficult to accept that this is continuing and causing so many people to suffer.”
Romanenko's friends and loved ones say they remember his smile, his compassionate heart and the joy he brought to others.
Romanenko, a graduate of UC Irvine with a degree in mathematics, worked as a software engineer at a venture capital firm in the Bay Area.
Aside from his professional achievements, Romanenko was an accomplished athlete and grew up swimming, cycling, running and surfing.
He and his older brother often competed in triathlons together, forging bonds of brotherhood through their shared passion for endurance sports.
Those close to him described him as a “ball of joy,” always willing to help others and bring positivity to the lives of everyone he met.
Luu and Romanenko's family channels their grief to preserve his memory so that his legacy of kindness and love continues to inspire.
