Baby born in car during police pursuit
A father-to-be who refused to pull over despite being pursued by police has given a good reason why he failed to stop - his wife was giving birth in the back seat.
The 38-year-old man was driving his wife, who was in advanced labour, to hospital when police tried to pull him over for running a red light on Stud Road, Dandenong, at around 1.45am.
In a frantic bid to get his wife help, he failed to stop and police, with lights and sirens activated, followed in hot pursuit.
"My husband tried to pass a red traffic light and the police car came to a stop on the red light," the new mum explained. "We drove past the police car and then the cop chased us."
"I was worried about my baby's life and that she was safe."
"I was so scared. I wanted to get to hospital as soon as I could.
"It happened three of four times faster than I expected."
The driver continued to obey the speed limit and road signs, before pulling over in the entrance of Dandenong Hospital, with not one but two passengers.
The couple's healthy baby daughter could not wait and was delivered on the back seat of the car, just moments before they reached the emergency department.
To the surprise of the officers, when the car door opened they were met by the cries of a new born baby.
"I told police I couldn't stop because I had a baby in the car," the new father said.
Police quickly alerted hospital staff who attended to the mother and child, while the driver remained outside.
The officers congratulated the couple on the new arrival and agreed that, given the circumstances, no action would be taken for failing to stop.
It is the couple's first baby and while she is yet to be named, she certainly knows how to make an entrance.
