VIDOR — A Highway 12 drive home from a fun day out turned devastating Friday night when a multi-vehicle crash left a 3-year-old dead and his mother badly hurt, authorities say.
The child, identified as Cooper Woodrome, was rushed from the scene to CHRISTUS St. Elizabeth Hospital, where he later died. His mother, 24-year-old Katelynn Ann Woodrome, remains hospitalized with serious injuries. Police arrested a suspected intoxicated driver at the scene and booked him into the Orange County Jail.
According to KABB‑Fox San Antonio, investigators identified the driver as 56-year-old Joseph Frank Green. He faces a second-degree felony charge of intoxication manslaughter with a vehicle. Justice of the peace Rodney Price set Green’s bond at $1,000,000 and ordered conditions that include no alcohol, use of an ignition-interlock device if he drives, and a SCRAM alcohol monitor.
Price also noted that public records show Green has two prior DWI convictions, and the Orange County sheriff provided a booking photo to local media.
What The Charge Means
Under Texas law, intoxication manslaughter is a felony offense that can bring two to 20 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine, as set out in Texas Penal Code §49.08. Prosecutors can seek enhancements in certain situations, and any prior intoxication convictions can influence a defendant’s exposure and potential sentencing.
The charge now sitting in an Orange County courtroom will move through the local criminal process while investigators and the district attorney continue reviewing evidence from the crash.
Crash Details And Family
Vidor police say officers responded around 9:30 p.m. to the 3000 block of Highway 12 near Evangeline Drive after reports of a three-vehicle collision that left Cooper critically injured.
“Katelynn (24) and Cooper (3) were traveling home from a fun day together,” a GoFundMe post quoted in KABB‑Fox San Antonio says, underscoring the gut punch for relatives and neighbors now grieving a child who never made it home.
Detectives with Vidor’s Accident Investigation Team and Criminal Investigations Division, working alongside the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, obtained an arrest warrant after determining another driver appeared to be intoxicated, authorities say. Justice of the Peace Justin Chesson ordered an autopsy for Cooper.
The family’s fundraiser states that donations will help cover medical expenses and funeral costs as the community rallies around Cooper’s loved ones.
Next Steps
Green remains in custody at the Orange County Jail pending further court proceedings and the autopsy results. Prosecutors and investigators are expected to continue reviewing toxicology reports and crash evidence as the case moves forward. If Green is convicted, the statutory penalties on the intoxication manslaughter charge carry potential years behind bars.
In the meantime, friends, neighbors, and relatives are organizing fundraising efforts to help the family shoulder mounting medical bills and funeral expenses while they navigate the loss of a 3-year-old whose night was supposed to end with nothing more than a quiet ride home.
