More detail on this person: William E. Wallen WILLIAMSBURG - William E. Wallen, 49, a native of Southern California and a resident of Hayes (Gloucester County) for five years, died Wednesday, Nov. 27. Mr. Wallen retired as a lieutenant commander in the Navy after 20 years. He was a veteran of the Vietnam War. He worked as a security officer at Kingsmill on the James for two years. Survived by a son, Mark Wallen of Hayes; his mother, Estelle K. Wallen of Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif.; and a brother, Don C. Wallen of Rancho Palos Verdes. Memorial service at 11 a.m. Tuesday in Bucktrout Funeral Home by Dr. John T. Martin. Burial with military honors at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery Point Loma in San Diego, Calif. Daily Press, Newport News, Virginia, December 1, 1991. SECURITY OFFICER RUN OVER BY TRUCK David Chernicky, Daily Press December 3, 1991 | James City (County) Officials at Kingsmill on the James and Anheuser-Busch Co. are taking steps to steer brewery-bound trucks away from Kingsmill after the death last week of a private police officer there. William E. Wallen, 49, of Hayes in Gloucester County, died of internal injuries received Wednesday when he was knocked down and run over by a tractor-trailer at the guardhouse at the Route 60 entrance to Kingsmill, an exclusive residential and golf resort community. The freak accident occurred about 12:20 p.m. when the driver of an 18-wheel tractor-trailer pulled forward to begin a U-turn not knowing that Wallen was standing in front of the rig, said William Voliva, Kingsmill's assistant general manager. Voliva said the driver, Herbert Bell, 27, of Columbus, Ga., used the Kingsmill entrance because he apparently became lost or confused on his way to the brewery. Wallen stopped Bell at the guardhouse and gave him directions to the brewery, beginning with a U-turn that would take him to Route 60, from where it is another 400 yards to the brewery, Voliva said. He said the truck was going to the brewery to be loaded. ''The driver stated he thought Wallen went back to the guardhouse,'' Voliva said. Instead, Wallen walked to the front of the truck to stop traffic entering the road so the truck could begin the U-turn, Voliva said. ''The driver, thinking the officer went back to the guardhouse and not seeing him in front of the truck, began the U-turn and knocked him down and ran over him,'' Voliva said. Voliva said the driver told Kingsmill police investigators he saw the body lying behind the trailer when he glanced in the rear-view mirror. When James City County rescue workers arrived, they found Wallen conscious and talking, Voliva said. Wallen was rushed to Williamsburg Community Hospital, where he died in the emergency room a short time later. Kingsmill Police Chief Kenneth Faris said Wallen joined the 24-member private police department about two years ago. He completed the Hampton Roads police academy only two months ago. Wallen had previously worked as a security officer at Busch Gardens. ''Bill was an easygoing person. Always reliable and prompt,'' Faris said. It is not uncommon for truck drivers headed for Anheuser-Busch to mistakenly turn into Kingsmill, either thinking it might be a short cut to the brewery or to ask for directions, Voliva and Faris said. ''It has been a common problem,'' Voliva said. ''Nothing extraordinary about it. It might happen three times a day, then we might get three in a month,'' Faris said. Wallen was born and raised in Southern California. He was a retired Navy lieutenant and Vietnam veteran. No charges have been placed against Bell, but the investigation is continuing. Alonzo Byrd, spokesman for Anheuser-Busch in St. Louis, said Monday the company is aware of the problem and is working with Kingsmill officials to solve it. He attributed the error to ''truck drivers who are not familiar with the area.'' Byrd estimated the brewery receives about 400 trucks daily. Voliva said Kingsmill has already moved a sign to make it clearer which route truck drivers should take. The company will ask the highway department for other changes in signs. A memorial service for Wallen is scheduled for 11 today at Bucktrout Funeral Home. Daily Press, Newport News, Virginia, December 3, 1991. Cremated by Newport News Crematorium, Newport News, Virginia. Remains in possession of family members.
Burial information: Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, San Diego, CA
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