Moment cop helps deliver baby on the highway
A cop went above and beyond his call of duty on a highway – by helping to deliver a baby.
The husband of a pregnant woman approached Master Deputy Daniel ‘Red’ Jones on Highway 60 in Plant City, Florida, and said she was in labor.
Jones immediately went to the woman, who was laying across the front seats of the vehicle, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.
The body camera worn by Jones recorded the moment that he helped her give birth on Sunday.
‘Is this your first baby? How many?’ asked Jones as held the hand of the clearly pregnant woman laying on her side.
The woman replied: ‘This is the sixth.’
‘Six! Woo!’ said Jones. ‘Y’all need a better hobby!’
She laughed briefly at the joke.
As the woman’s water had already broke, it appeared that an ambulance would not make it to the scene in time, and Jones took the situation in his own hands.
‘I know it hurts but you’ve been through this before,’ Jones said. ‘Keep breathing through it.’
The woman screamed and said the baby was ‘pushing’ and ‘coming’.
Minutes later, Jones said, ‘There we go, I got a baby!’
The woman and her newborn girl were taken to a hospital for evaluation and medical care.
Jones said he was ‘thrilled’ to help bring the baby into the world and suggested that her parents name her ‘Red’ after his nickname.
The couple wound up naming her Lexela Luis Lopez, her father Luis Lopez told WTSP.
‘I want to thank the Hillsborough Sheriff’s Department for having amazing officers that helped us to deliver our baby girl at Highway 60,’ the father said.
Sheriff Chad Chronister stated he was ‘extremely proud’ of Jones’ ‘quick actions and dedication to serving our community in any capacity’.
‘This is his third time assisting a citizen with delivering a baby!’ said Chronister of Jones, who joined the force in 2001.
‘While delivering in the front seat of a car was not the original birth plan, Master Deputy Jones reassured the mother of six that she was in good hands.
‘I wish mom, dad, and their new baby girl all the joy and happiness. Congratulations!’
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