The disabled veteran was hit by other vehicles when he got out to assist with an impaired vehicle
Disable veterans DeKoda Watkins with his son. Waltkins was severely injured on Christmas Eve after stopping to assist with an impaired vehicle. Photo credit: GofundMe
A multi-vehicle crash on I-20 shut down the EB lane of the interstate through Rockdale County for several hours on Christmas Eve and severely injured a disabled veteran who had stopped to offer assistance.
According to the report from Georgia State Patrol Post 46 in Walton County, a Dodge Ram truck pulled up to assist a Dodge Challenger that was stopped in the right travel lane of I-20. The driver of the trucked stopped in front of the Challenger, partially on the shoulder of the road, and got out to offer assistance.
GSP Post 46 Assistant Commander Christoph Ayers said a Mercedes sedan approaching from behind both the Challenger and Ram truck ran into the Challenger in the rear bumper with its front bumper while simultaneously side swiping the Ram truck.
“In the collision the pedestrian was struck by the vehicles and came to rest in an unknown location in the roadway,” Ayers said. “The Challenger traveled from the right lane to the left lane for approximately 217 feet before coming to an uncontrolled rest.”
The driver of the initial stopped vehicle has been charged with driving under the influence and Ayers said all charges are pending.
The driver of the truck that stopped to help, disabled veteran DeKoda Watkins, 32, is the pedestrian who sustained severe injuries. He was lifeflighted to Grady Memorial Hospital. Ayers said he was conscious and talking when transported. His mother, Andrea Catalano, initially said he was doing surprising well under the circumstances. However, she said his condition has since deteriorated – at one time giving him just a 50/50 chance of survival.
Watkins, who is from Birmingham, AL, has a 7-year-old son at home. His wife and mother have to come from out-of-state to stay by his side during his recovery.
“He is still on the ecmo machine and ventilator at the moment, they’re looking at going in to remove the blood clot in the lungs. He’s improving a little bit every day, but still in a medically induced coma,” Catalano said. “Our family’s world changed in an instant, and we are now facing a long road to recovery. As a parent, it’s heartbreaking to see your child in pain, and we are doing everything we can to support him through this difficult time.”
A GoFundMe account has been set up to help with the medical expenses, future rehabilitation and the costs incurred by his wife and mother traveling back and forth between Birmingham and Atlanta to support Watkins during his recovery.
Click or tap on this link for the Gofundme account.
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