"Sir! We're Delivering a Baby Right Here, Right Now!"

(source)

There were lots of screaming sirens last night around my house last night in Iowa City. A quick glance at the Press-Citizen website this afternoon revealed the source of one of those siren blast. Turns out a couple was rushing to Mercy Hospital to deliver a baby. They didn't make it on time:

Iowa City Police Sgt. Vicki Lalla said officer Kevin Wolfe was on patrol shortly after 10 p.m. Sunday when a car went past him at a high rate of speed. Wolfe pursued the car and attempted to have to driver pull over.

When the driver finally pulled over at the corner of Jefferson and Gilbert streets, he had some surprising news for Wolfe.

“They driver jumped out and said ‘We’re delivering a baby right now,’” said Lalla.

Lalla said the driver then ran around to the passenger side and opened the door. By the time Wolfe got over there, the baby was delivered, Lalla said.

“He got a blanket out of the backseat of the car to wrap the baby in,” Lalla said.

You can watch a video of this officer's interaction with this couple right here. We're talking four minutes to pull over the couple, witness the delivery of a baby boy, and then escort the new parents to the nearby hospital!


Fortunately, the officer was very cool throughout this entire traffic stop. I've heard of officers who were total jerks in similar situations. I applaud Officer Kevin Wolfe for being a stand-up officer in this exciting situation.