A Lafayette man was killed Monday evening, May 21 in what Sumner County Sheriff Bob Barker said was an apparent suicide after Wayne Walker, 28, “ran out into the North bound lane (of Hwy. 31-E) and was struck by a tractor-trailer.” The truck was driven by John McAlexander, 60, Thornville, Ohio.

Charles Wayne Walker, 556 Wildcat Lane, Lafayette was transported to Sumner Regional Medical Center. Walker still had a pulse during transport, said Assistant Director of Sumner EMS Keith Douglas, but died shortly after arrival at the hospital, according to reports in the Gallatin News-Examiner.

“There were several people standing around a car at the side of the road in the ‘break down lane',” related witness Leroy Shelton of Magnolia, KY. Shelton said he was in the car immediately behind the semi-truck that Walker stepped out in front of.

The News-Examiner interviewed another witness, Gary Wolfe, Walker's former neighbor who was at the side of the road when Walker jumped out into traffic.

According to Wolfe, Walker and his wife, Amber Walker, had been driving on 31-E toward Westmoreland and were arguing. Walker asked to get out of the vehicle, and his wife let him out at the bottom of the hill.

Amber Walker is reported to have called Wolfe and his wife for help. Wolfe said they met her at the Hardee's in Westmoreland, and she rode with them back to where she had left her husband.

When they arrived, Wayne and Amber Walker began arguing again. “Then Wayne said, ‘watch this,' and jumped in front of a tractor trailer,” Wolfe related to News-Examiner reporter Mary Rose Fox.

According to the Sumner Sheriff's accident investigation and the collision diagram, Walker left his shoes at the ditchline beside the road before stepping in front of the speeding tractor trailer rig. The accident was called in at 4:45 p.m. that afternoon.

Funeral services were held for Charles Wayne Walker last Wednesday, May 23 in Gallatin.

Wayne Walker, 28, of Lafayette died Monday May 21, 2007.  Funeral services were held at 11:00 a.m. Thursday May 24 from the chapel of Family Heritage Funeral Home, in Gallatin, with Rich Gipson officiating.  Burial followed in Crestview Memorial Park.  Pallbearers were Coy Samms, Scott Leggett, Scotty Smith, Rocky Walker, Shane Walker, and Josh Cook.

  He is... survived by his wife Amber Walker of Lafayette, two sons; Marc Austin Walker and Anthony Blake Walker, mother, Deon Wheeler of Clarksville, father Jacky Walker of Bethpage, grandparents; Robert and Louise Walker of Gallatin, and Larange and Chuck Simpson of Clarksville, two brothers, Shane Walker of Gallatin, Josh Cook of  Portland, one sister Brittany Walker of Gallatin.  Arrangements by Family Heritage Funeral Home 452-7115  www.familyheritagefh.com