WAKE VILLAGE, Texas – It’s been nearly a year since the Wooten family lost their 20-year-old son.
He was hit and killed while riding his motorcycle near Wake Village. No arrests have been made.
The family is speaking out now, sharing their grief and offering a message of safety and awareness for others.
Texas DPS officers are still searching for the man who they believed ran over James “J.R.” Wooten then left the scene.
J.R.’s mother, Jeanne Wooten says she thinks of her kind and generous son every day.
“How much he helped people. He was always willing to help. No matter how much he had,” said Jeanne Wooten.
A memorial cross with flowers and ball caps still stands at the crash site off Highway 67 and Kelly Road. J.R. Wooten was hit by an eastbound pickup truck that threw him into a ditch.
Police say the driver, Miguel Juarez-Rodriguez, then took off. Authorities received a tip that he may have fled to Mexico, but it has not been confirmed.
“Oh, it would lift a weight. It’s constantly there because we haven’t caught him yet. I will be so glad when they pick him up,” said Jeanne Wooten.
While the family wants the suspect arrested and justice for J.R., they also want people to look out for motorcycles.
“Please be careful. They’ve got families at home, so they want to come home just like you. Sometimes you don’t see them. I’m even notorious for that. Really try to open your eyes and look, know what kind of season it is. They’ll be out riding, it’s beautiful weather for it,” said Jeanne Wooten.
Family friend Matt Middleton says they’ve planned a memorial event on May 4 to honor J.R. It will start at 5 p.m. at the Harley Davidson store and end with a candlelight vigil at Hillcrest Cemetery.
“It’s for anybody who wants to come out here, tell stories, smile, cry, whatever needs to be done,” said Middleton.
The family has also started the “J.R. Wooten Scholarship” foundation. They’ve raised $2,600 to give away to Liberty Eylau students in May who are pursuing careers in skilled trades.
Juarez-Rodriguez is wanted on a charge of failing to render aid in a collision causing death.
If you have any information on his whereabouts, contact the Texas Highway Patrol at 903-255-5701.
