Woman gives birth in HOV lane of California freeway
SEAL BEACH, Calif. -- An Orange County mother-to-be and her family were on their way to a hospital, rushing on the 405 Freeway in Seal Beach, California when they hit a speed bump of sorts. The baby wasn't waiting.
At about 4:30 p.m., Anuradha Suratkal and her family were in the southbound lanes of the 405 Freeway on their way to Irvine, when the baby decided it was time to enter the world.
Orange County Fire Authority dispatcher Grace Romero helped husband Nagaraj Badavide and the couple's 12-year-old daughter and 9-year-old son with the pending delivery, as they anxiously waited for paramedics to arrive.
Just a few minutes after crews arrived, the baby made its debut.
"Mom was upright and the baby's head was presenting," said Randy Ripken, a firefighter and paramedic for Orange County Fire Authority.
Her delivery went off without a hitch.
"Pretty much was normal, except the baby was in the backseat of the vehicle on a freeway, pretty busy freeway on a Sunday in the HOV lane," Ripken said.
No word on the name of the newborn, who checks in at 7 pounds and 21.5 inches long.
