Ray Barrantes Dies in Chowchilla Car Crash
Fatal Chowchilla car crash death of Ray Barrantes
The city of Chowchilla has confirmed the identity of the police officer killed Friday evening following his patrol vehicle’s collision with a large truck. Mayor Kelly Smith announced that Ray Barrantes was the officer on duty in the marked Ford Explorer involved in the accident.
This occurred around 10:30 p.m. near the intersection of State Route 152 and Road 13 in Madera County. According to officers from the Madera area California Highway Patrol, Officer Barrantes was traveling eastbound on Highway 152 when the incident happened. At the time, a Freightliner truck, attempting to cross State Route 152, was heading south on Road 13 and carrying a load of tomatoes.
Investigators reported that the front of Barrantes’s vehicle impacted the side of the rear trailer of the Freightliner, causing the patrol car to become stuck underneath the truck. Debris from the accident, including spilled produce, obstructed several lanes of traffic on both Road 13 and part of eastbound SR-152.
The 36-year-old driver of the Freightliner, from Firebaugh, suffered no injuries. Toxicology tests indicated that neither drugs nor alcohol were contributing factors to the crash.
Mayor Smith also stated that flags will be flown at half-staff at city facilities through October 12, 2025, as a tribute to Officer Barrantes and his family.
