VIDOR — Family and friends are reaching out to share memories of a toddler described as “such a happy kid and full of life” following his death in a collision that also seriously injured his 24-year-old mother and resulted in the arrest of a suspect charged with Intoxication Manslaughter.
Three-year-old Cooper Woodrome of Vidor died at CHRISTUS St. Elizabeth Hospital following the crash, despite the efforts of first responders and doctors to save his life. His mother, 24-year-old Katelynn Ann Woodrome, suffered serious injuries and is hospitalized at CHRISTUS.
Joseph Frank Green, 56, with an address listed in Vidor, was booked into the Orange County Jail on the 2nd degree felony of Intoxication Manslaughter With a Vehicle. If convicted, he could face 2-20 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine.
Sheriff Bobby Smith provided his booking photo to KFDM.
Justice of the Peace Rodney Price arraigned Green late Sunday morning and set bond at $1 million. He set conditions if Green were able to make bond. He’s ordered not to consume alcoholic beverages or any intoxicant, not drive unless he uses an ignition interlock device, and wear a SCRAM device that does continuous monitoring to detect alcohol.
Price says in doing a criminal background check, it shows Green has two prior DWIs. KFDM checked public data and it indicates they were in Montgomery County and he received probation in each of them.
Vidor Police issued a news release about the Friday night crash with no detailed information about the suspect nor the toddler.
Police say they responded to the crash at about 9:30 Friday night in the 3000 block of Highway 12, near Evangeline Drive, about 12 1/2 miles northeast of Beaumont.
Three vehicles were involved and Cooper Woodrome was critically injured. He died at CHRISTUS St. Elizabeth Hospital. Justice of the Peace Justin Chesson tells KFDM he’s ordered an autopsy. Cooper’s mother, Katelynn Ann Woodrome, suffered serious injuries.
The Vidor Police Department’s Accident Investigation Team and Criminal Investigations Division were notified and responded to assist with the investigation.
During the course of the investigation, police say they determined another driver, a man we’ve since learned is Joseph Frank Green, 56, was intoxicated at the time of the crash. Detectives, in coordination with the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, obtained an arrest warrant for Intoxication Manslaughter, took him into custody and drove him to the Orange County Jail.
A GoFundMe is set up to help Cooper’s mom, Katelynn, and family with medical expenses and funeral costs.
GoFundMe
Katelynn (24) and Cooper (3) were traveling home from a fun day together when tragedy struck and a drunk driver collided into the back of their car. Despite all efforts from the EMS and doctors, Cooper did not survive the trauma caused by the crash. Momma is in the hospital with multiple injuries, causing months of rehab and possible surgeries. Money raised is going to funeral costs along with the extreme medical bills she is facing. If you know these two, they were two peas in a pod. Cooper was such a happy kid and full of life. Any help is greatly appreciated along with all the prayers for this loving mom and Cooper.