Ray Barrantes Obituary, Death; – The city of Chowchilla has confirmed the identity of the on-duty police officer who tragically lost his life on Friday night following a collision between his patrol vehicle and a large truck.

Mayor Kelly Smith has stated that Ray Barrantes was the Chowchilla police officer driving the marked Ford Explorer that collided with a Freightliner as it attempted to cross State Route 152 at the intersection of Road 13 in Madera County.

At approximately 10:30 p.m., officers from the California Highway Patrol in the Madera area were alerted to the incident, reporting that Officer Barrantes was heading eastbound on Highway 152 while the truck, which was hauling a set of doubles loaded with tomatoes, was traveling south on Road 13.

As the truck’s driver began to navigate across the lanes of Highway 152, officers indicated that the front of Barrantes’s patrol vehicle collided with the right side of the Freightliner’s rear trailer, becoming lodged underneath it.

Both vehicles, along with the spilled produce, obstructed both lanes of traffic on Road 13 and a portion of the eastbound SR-152. Investigators have reported that Barrantes succumbed to his injuries at the scene.

The 36-year-old male driver of the Freightliner, who hails from Firebaugh, was not injured in the incident. Authorities have stated that there is no indication that drugs or alcohol played a role in this accident.

Furthermore, Mayor Smith has remarked, “In honor and memory of Officer Barrantes, I have instructed that all flags at City facilities be flown at half-staff until October 12, 2025. I encourage our community members, schools, and businesses to participate in this act of respect and remembrance for Officer Barrantes and his family.”