CHP: Fatal Petaluma crash victim sped head-on into tractor-trailer rig

A Rancho Cordova man killed in a collision Friday near Petaluma was 31-year-old Brendon Ross Barraclough, the Sonoma County Coroner’s Office said Monday.

Barraclough was traveling east on Adobe Road in a Chevrolet Tahoe when he came upon slowed traffic in his lane, according to the CHP. He moved into the opposite lane, sped up to 60 mph, and began passing the vehicles.

But a three-axle tractor pulling a Petaluma Poultry tank trailer was in the westbound lane. Driver Eduardo Avila saw the approaching SUV, slowed and tried to pull out of the way but Barraclough’s SUV struck the front of the rig, the CHP said.

Avila, 49, of Santa Rosa wasn’t injured. Barraclough died in the impact.

The crash occurred at 3:47 p.m. between Frates and Casa Grande roads. Clearing the crash and an investigation closed the road for hours Friday evening.

The CHP is investigating whether drugs were involved.

Randi Rossmann