Trooper delivers baby roadside.

Trooper delivers baby roadside.

#NewaygoCountyNews

‘Eight minutes after being dispatched to the call, Trooper McGuigan was holding a newborn baby in his hands.’

BROOKS TOWNSHIP, (Newaygo County) — Michigan State Police Trooper Owen McGuigan of the Hart Post, with the assistance of a college intern, delivered a healthy baby girl roadside on Spruce Avenue south of M-82 Sunday, Dec. 4, at 11:48 a.m., according to a press release issued by Sgt. Ron Nelson.

“A trooper from the Hart post was dispatched to look for a vehicle where one of the occupants was having a medical emergency. When the trooper located the vehicle, he found that the passenger was in labor and was trying to get to the hospital. Within minutes, the passenger, with the assistance of the trooper and his intern, gave birth to a healthy baby girl,” Nelson states.

“Trooper Owen McGuigan was on patrol in Newaygo County and was accompanied by a college student who was riding with him to learn about a career in law enforcement. Trooper McGuigan was dispatched to look for a red Jeep Cherokee that was northbound on Spruce Avenue south of M-82. An occupant in that vehicle was having a medical emergency, but due to a language barrier, dispatch did not know what the emergency was.

“Trooper Owen McGuigan of MSP Hart was in the area and within minutes he had located the vehicle on the shoulder of the road on Spruce Avenue south of M-82. Trooper McGuigan quickly learned that the 41-year-old female passenger from Grant had gone into labor and was trying to get to the hospital. Things escalated quickly. Eight minutes after being dispatched to the call, Trooper McGuigan was holding a newborn baby in his hands. He barely had time to call for an ambulance and put his gloves on when a healthy baby girl was delivered on the side of the road. He and his intern were able to deliver the baby and keep her and the mother warm until EMS arrived.”

The mother and baby were then transported to Spectrum Health Gerber Hospital in Fremont. Troopers were assisted at the scene by Life EMS and Newaygo First Responders.