WENDELL, N.C. (WNCN) - There aren't many firsts for a 16-year veteran of the North Carolina State Highway Patrol — but now Sgt. Brian Maynard can say he helped deliver a baby on the side of the road.
"We don't have specific training on how to deliver a baby,” Maynard said.
Laura Baker and her husband, Jimmy, were headed to Rex Hospital. Laura was in labor.
It happened Saturday around 11 p.m.
Her contractions started picking up.
"They are all of a sudden two minutes apart, and I asked my husband, 'How far are we from Rex? 'He's like, 'We're 30 minutes,'” Laura said.
Laura realized they weren’t going to make it.
Jimmy spotted the trooper’s cruiser, turned on his hazards and sped up. Maynard pulled him over.
"As soon as we had pulled over, my water broke. So, we knew we didn't have much time. So Sgt. Maynard comes over to access the situation, and he's holding my hand,” Laura said.
Maynard also called for an ambulance.
"I wasn't sure if I was ready to handle something I couldn't take care of,” Maynard said.
Maynard said there’s no training for a situation like this.
"He and I did the best we could do with what we had. Gloves, blanket, holding the wife's hand,” Maynard said.
The trooper and Jimmy started delivering the baby. EMT’s arrived to finish the process.
"With two pushes, Halyn was out, crying,” Laura said.
All three Bakers were taken to the hospital. Baby Halyn is now healthy and happy.
Maynard visited the now family of four in the hospital.
They’re all at home in Spring Hope with an incredible roadside delivery story to tell.