Abigail Rowe, 19 months, thrown from car during multi-vehicle crash on Glenn Highway in Anchorage, Alaska

Tiffany Rowe, Abigail Rowe’s mother, said she was driving a silver Chevrolet Malibu on the Glenn Highway with her daughter Abigail and her mother, Candy Turner, as passengers when she was struck by a Ford pickup. Police said four people were injured in the collision, which occurred near Northway Mall just east of Airport Heights Drive at about 2:30 p.m. Monday.

"If her car seat wouldn't have been fastened, she would no longer be with us," Simmons said. Tiffany Rowe says she was headed inbound on the highway Monday afternoon with her mother and daughter in the car. A Ford F150 in the outbound lanes crossed the center median and hit three vehicles, including Rowe's sedan, police say. "Good Samaritans who were the first on the scene removed the child from the car seat because they thought she might have trouble breathing," Powell said. In a comment on the KTUU facebook page, Rowe thanked people for the outpouring of well wishes her family received.

Duke is being charged with two counts of first-degree assault, six counts of third-degree assault and drunken driving, police said. A driver involved in the Jan. 11 pileup that ejected a 19-month-old girl from her family vehicle is being charged with felony assault and drunken driving, police say. A firefighter told KTUU that Rowe likely survived because her family had properly installed and strapped her into her car seat. Among the injured was toddler Abby Rowe, who suffered a broken arm and bruising upon ejection from one of the cars struck in the crash. A warrant has been issued for Duke’s arrest but he has not been taken into custody because he is still receiving medical treatment, police said.