NORTH COAST, Calif. – A Lake County man who was walking across lanes of traffic on Highway 101 Sunday night in Windsor died after he was struck by three separate vehicles.

Sgt. Cecile Focha of the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office identified the man as 37-year-old Brandon James Harlof of Nice. Focha said Harlof's family had been notified of his death.

Just after 11 p.m. Sunday Harlof was walking within the lanes of northbound Highway 101 south of Shiloh Road when, for reasons that are unknown, Harlof crossed the lanes of traffic in an easterly direction, according to a report from Officer Jon Sloat of the California Highway Patrol's Santa Rosa Area office.

A silver Dodge Charger driven by Ernesto Eufracio of Lindsay hit Harlof within the highway's No. 2 lane, the CHP said.

Shortly after Harlof was hit by the first vehicle, the CHP said he was hit by two others – a 1999 Cadillac driven by William Brasher and a three-axle truck and trailer driven by William Rivers of San Francisco.

All three vehicles pulled to the right shoulder and awaited assistance from the CHP, Sloat's report said.

Traffic was diverted to Shiloh Road, while the northbound lanes of Highway 101 were closed for approximately four hours during the investigation, according to the CHP.

Focha said the Sonoma County Coroner’s Office will schedule a forensic pathologist to conduct an autopsy to determine the official cause and manner of Harlof’s death.

The CHP said investigators are trying to determine why Harlof was on the freeway.

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