Mom gives birth to baby girl on 405 Freeway off-ramp

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A girl and her family will have an amazing story to tell after her mother gave birth in the family SUV on a southbound 405 Freeway off-ramp Saturday.

The baby couldn't wait to come in to the world or be born at a hospital.

Her family was traveling southbound on the 405 Freeway on their way to the hospital around 1 a.m. when mom went into labor.

When Los Angeles firefighter Tisa Murphy received the 911 call, she thought she would be delivering a baby.

"Normally when we get those calls, the baby is not born yet," said Murphy. "I wasn't thinking that the baby was already born. I heard one of the other paramedics say 'Oh the baby's already born,' and I was like 'Wow!'"

The family pulled on to the Santa Monica Avenue off-ramp which at 1 a.m. Saturday was closed because of construction. The construction on the 405 Freeway, for once, was a blessing for the family but it was a headache for firefighters.

"We tried to get on the freeway down Cotner Avenue but they had it blocked off because of construction so we had to go up to Santa Monica Avenue and the 405 Freeway," said Murphy.

When crews arrived, dad had already delivered his daughter in the backseat of the SUV.

"He was on the phone with the dispatch and they were telling him what to do so that's how he delivered the baby," said Murphy.

Dad wrapped the baby in his shirt to keep her warm.

"The baby was wide awake and just really alert and healthy, beautiful baby, so everything went really, really good," said Murphy.

Crews cut the umbilical cord and then transferred a healthy mom and baby to Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center. They also commended dad for remaining so calm under pressure.

"They didn't panic," said Murphy. "I'm glad they pulled over to the side and didn't try to drive erratically to the hospital."

As for a name, Murphy has a suggestion.

"I asked mom what the baby's name was and she said she didn't know yet but my name for her is Monica for the Santa Monica Freeway," said Murphy.

Get more Los Angeles News »

unbelievable, santa monica, west los angeles, los angeles city fire department, los angeles news, darsha philips

• Comment Now
• Email
• Print
• Report a typo
•