Chowchilla Officer Raymond Barrantes Killed in Crash

Chowchilla Police Officer Raymond “Ray” Barrantes died the night of Oct. 3 after his marked patrol SUV collided with a Freightliner semi-truck hauling tomatoes at about 10:30 p.m. at the intersection of Highway 152 and Road 13, authorities said. The CHP reported the patrol vehicle struck the right rear of the trailer, became lodged under it, and Barrantes was pronounced dead at the scene; the truck driver from Firebaugh was uninjured and alcohol or drugs do not appear to be factors. The CHP’s Multidisciplinary Accident Investigation Team is leading the probe while the Madera County Sheriff’s Office has taken over calls for Chowchilla as the department and community grieve. Barrantes, a veteran officer who previously served in Mendota and West Sacramento, lived in Chowchilla with his three children, was described as a mentor to younger officers, and the city ordered municipal flags at half-staff through Oct. 12 while Governor Newsom ordered state flags lowered through the following weekend.