jadin.jpg

Jadin Bell

(Family photo)

Update:

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A La Grande man who was walking across the country to honor his dead son has been hit and killed by a truck in Colorado.

The

is reporting that Joe Bell of La Grande, who was walking in memory of his son Jadin Bell, died Wednesday evening when struck by a tractor-trailer rig on Highway 40, about 20 miles northwest of Kit Carson, Colo.

The elder Bell took up the walk after Jadin hung himself on a La Grande playground, apparently after being bullied at school. Jadin was openly gay.

The Herald reported that a Facebook page chronicling Joe Bell's journey -- Joe's Walk For Change -- had a post Thursday morning about Joe's Bell's death.

"He will continue his journey now with Jadin. Please keep his family in your prayers and thoughts," the Facebook post said.

The Herald said Bell was struck by a truck driven by Kenneth Raven, 49, of a Bryan, Texas, trucking company.

Bell, 48, was apparently walking east on the shoulder of the highway when he was struck about 5:10 p.m. local time, according to KKTV.com.

Colorado state troopers said Raven might have fallen asleep and he was cited for careless driving resulting in death, according to the Colorado TV station.

The Herald said Joe Bell said he planned to walk across the story and tell his son's story to as many people as he could.

This story will be updated as new information is gathered.

-- The Oregonian