Published: October 29, 2009 05:41 pm      

Bank account set up to help toddler who survived wreck

A bank account has been set up for the 3-year-old girl who survived a fatal wreck which killed three other people.

Emily Dutta Knoddin was critically injured with a head injury and multiple fractures to her tiny body on Sept. 22 on FM 1442. She was in her car seat in the vehicle as her mother, Kelly Marie Dutta, 33, of Beaumont, drove the 2006 GMC Sierra. Also in the vehicle was 61-year-old Margaret Jane Cottom of Jasper. Both women died at the scene.

Emily Noddin is now stable and conscious. But, she does not have control of her motor skills and has a feeding tube. She is facing at least one year of physical therapy.

An account has been set up at Chase Bank, located at 350 Dowlen in Beaumont (Account #834623118). However, donations can be given at any of the bank locations. The family appreciates all of the support they have received from the community.

Investigators worked on the wreck scene and believe Dutta’s pickup truck struck a 2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer nearly head-on as she attempted to turn left onto Cajun Way Road. As a result, Kathy Harrison Viator, 47, of Orange, was killed.

According to Trooper Bryan Cooper, toxicology results were as follows: Kelly Dutta – negative results, Margaret Cottom – negative results and Kathy Viator – blood alcohol concentration of 0.18. The legal limit in Texas is .08.

Cooper believes Viator’s level of intoxication was also a contributing factor to the fatal crash.

The toddler was extricated from the vehicle and flown to Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston where she has remained since the wreck. Doctors are reportedly hopeful she will recover.