Mother, Baby Boy Arrive Safely At Hospital After I-55 Delivery

BOLINGBROOK, IL — The mother of a newborn baby who was delivered Wednesday morning on Interstate 55 near Darien were taken to a Bolingbrook hospital after the baby was delivered by the driver of the vehicle the woman was traveling in at the time, Illinois State Police reported.

The woman, who was not identified by police, arrived with her newborn son at Amita Bolingbrook Hospital after the delivery, which took place just after 7:30 a.m. Police said that troopers were called to a southbound lane of I-55 south of Cass Ave. near Darien for the reports of a medical emergency.

Trooper Lanny Finn, who is assigned to the Elgin State Police Post, arrived at the scene to find that baby boy had been brought into the world by the driver of the vehicle, police said. Finn, a 17-year veteran of the State Police kept the baby warm by wrapping the newborn in a blanket, police said. The baby and the woman were taken to Bolingbrook by ambulance while Finn delivered the male driver to the hospital, police said.

“Our troopers are always ready to help when needed,” State Police District 2 Commander Capt. Michael Kraft said in a statement issued by the state police. “In this case, the baby did not want to wait for Trooper Finn and decided to greet him as he arrived.”

Finn retired in 2017 as a Major with the U.S. Army National Guard after serving for 20 years. He has also worked as an instructor with the State Police during his career.

“Trooper Finn is a season officer with medical response training,” Kraft said. “…I am pleased to know that Trooper Finn arrived quickly to help if it was needed.”