Baby Literally Born in I-696 Fast Lane

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A Royal Oak couple will be able to tell their infant son he was literally born in the fast lane.

The Royal Oak Fire Department rushed to assist the couple about 3:30 a.m. Tuesday after getting a call that a woman was in labor on Interstate 696.

“We heard it was an active labor call, so our ears perked up and we ran outside,” Royal Oak Firefighter Eric Scicluna told WXYZ-TV.

A portion of the freeway was shut down so the rescue crews could get to the vehicle to assist in the delivery.

By the time they arrived, the couple’s son had already been born. Dad had delivered the baby, and all that remained for Scicluna and his colleagues to do was cut the umbilical cord and get them on their way to a local hospital.

It’s the second time in five months that Scicluna has responded to a labor call.

Firefighters often encounter tragedy when they’re dispatched.

“It’s nice to see the other end of stuff,” Scicluna said. “We see the bad stuff, so it’s nice to see the happy side.”

The baby and his parents are doing well.