A Texas family is reeling after a tragic accident that killed their 19-year-old son. Even more upsetting is the fact the young man’s father is the one who accidentally killed him. Now, the father, Jack Cody West, is facing manslaughter charges while he should be comforting his family. Instead, he is facing prison time, leaving his family dealing with even more stress.
Despite the unimaginable loss, the family is taking comfort in the love they had for their son, and making time to remember the kind of person he was.
According to the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office, 47-year-old Jack West was “actively mudding” on March 30, 2025, with his family, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported. Jack West was driving his Ford F-250 while his son, Blake Cody West rode in the truck’s bed.
Investigators said that Jack West began to hit a series of bumps while driving at the off-roading park in the mud. As the truck hit the bumps, his son was thrown out of the truck. He was then run over.
“Video … from a bystander showed the white F-250 truck bounce off a few ruts. This caused the contents of the bed to be tossed out, which included the victim. The truck was then seen fatally running over the victim,” the sheriff’s office said. “Family and bystanders immediately rushed to begin life-saving measures; however, the victim was pronounced deceased a short time later.”
Police believed that Jack West had been drinking before running over his son. He was arrested shortly after police arrived on the scene.
When police questioned him, his speech was reportedly slurred and his breath smelled of alcohol. According to investigators, he told deputies that he had been drinking before getting behind the wheel. But then, he refused a field sobriety test. Investigators instead got a warrant for a blood test.
“Elements for recklessness were evident to arrest the suspect for intoxication manslaughter,” the sheriff’s office said.
After her son’s death, Blake West’s mother, Jodi Lyn Lindsey, spoke about her son, saying “he loved 4-wheelers and go-karts.”
“Every last person that was involved rushed over to him because they’ve known him for years,” Lindsey told Kens5 News. “Everybody treated him like family and they all worked very hard to save my son and did everything they could and just to know that many people tried to help him? That’s what means the most to us.”
She said that at the end of his life, Blake was surrounded by people who loved him, including her other children, and his wife, D’leijah. “She was able to be there holding his hand until the very end,” she said. “He felt her love to the very end and that’s why they are an amazing couple.”
Lindsey started a GoFundMe to cover her son’s funeral costs. But ultimately, she wants people to focus on her son’s life, not how he died.
“My son is an adult. He knew what he was doing. He made his choice to be there and he was enjoying every minute of it. It was a true accident. It was nobody’s fault. Nobody did anything intentionally,” she said.
