Baby born during rush-hour traffic in snowy Chicago

CHICAGO – With a “good strong cry,” a baby girl made her way into the world on a snowy Lake Shore Drive during rush-hour traffic in Chicago on Tuesday morning, officials said.

It happened with the help and skill of medics from the Chicago Fire Department who received a frantic 911 call from the father who was driving near 63rd Street about 7:30 a.m., said fire department spokesman Larry Langford.

They planned to go to Mount Sinai Hospital, but little Renetta had other plans.

“She knew things were getting close,” Langford said of the mother. “So they decided to pull over, which was a smart move because by the time Truck 16 and Ambulance 38 got there, it was imminent,” Langford said.

The paramedics and firefighters “did what they’ve been trained to do, saw there was no time and they just proceeded to let it happen,” Langford said.

Baby and mom are doing fine, both taken to University of Chicago hospitals.

“The baby had a good strong cry and seemed to be doing well,” Langford said.