Cole County first responders helped deliver a baby Sunday night in a vehicle along the side of U.S. 54 when the mother couldn't make it to the hospital.
Darrell Wilhite was driving Brittany Wynkoop, who was in labor, from Eldon to Capital Region Medical Center shortly after 6 p.m.
During the drive, Wynkoop told Wilhite the baby was "coming now."
She was having contractions about 10-15 minutes apart and thought she would have plenty of time to get to the hospital, but shortly into the ride the contractions intensified and were closer together.
Wilhite pulled over and called 911 at 6:21 p.m., and was so excited he couldn't pinpoint their location.
Cole County Ambulance, Cole County First Responders and the Cole County Sheriff's Department were dispatched to search the eastbound lanes of U.S. 54 for a white Ford F-150 pulled over between Eldon and Jefferson City.
The ambulance, which responded from Brazito, drove toward Eugene while First Responders went toward Jefferson City.
First responders located the truck pulled over at Honey Creek Road at 6:28 p.m. while dispatchers redirected the ambulance.
First responders found Wynkoop in the front passenger seat of the truck in active labor with the baby's head visible.
Gathering some clean towels, they instructed the mother to push; within three pushes Wynkoop had delivered a healthy baby girl.
The ambulance arrived about two minutes after first responders. Wynkoop and her new baby girl, Elaina, were transported to Capital Region and doing well on Monday.
"Great teamwork was displayed by everyone. The ambulance paramedics, first responders and sheriff deputies all played a part in assuring the safe and uneventful delivery of a healthy baby girl," said Kevin Wieberg, assistant chief for the First Responders.
The Cole County First Responders are a not-for-profit volunteer organization that assists the county ambulance service with medical response outside of Jefferson City limits. They consist of about 50 volunteers ranging from the level of "first responder," which is a basic 44-hour course, to EMT to paramedic.
Each responder carries medical equipment with them in their personal vehicle they use to better assess patients and treat those who become sick and injured.
They respond with Cole County EMS ambulances and the county fire departments. All members are required to attend monthly training to assure skills are up to date. Funding is received from the EMS sales tax voted into effect in 2009 through the Cole County Commission. Funding pays for insurance, medical and communication equipment.