Hero officers deliver baby in Bucks County parking lot

Sarah Bloomquist Image
Tuesday, April 25, 2017
Hero officers help deliver baby in parking lot
Hero officers help deliver baby in parking lot. Sarah Bloomquist reports during Action News at 5 p.m. on April 24.

BEDMINSTER TWP., Pa. (WPVI) -- Jayce, the newest edition to the Diaz family, arrived into the world in dramatic fashion Thursday night.

He was born in the passenger seat of his parents' car in a parking lot with the help of two local police officers.

"It just felt crazy. It was like a whirlwind. Like a movie. I just never thought this would happen to us," Jennifer Diaz of Quakertown, Pa. said.

Close to 11 p.m., Jennifer started experiencing intense contractions.

A neighbor came to care for the couple's 5-year-old son Bentley.

Jennifer and husband, Matt, started for Doylestown Hospital.

Five minutes into the car ride -

"She said, 'My water broke.' And she started to scream and I've never heard her scream like this before and she said, 'He's coming, he's coming, he's coming.' So I called 911 and pulled over in a parking lot," Matt said.

Officer Robert Compton of Bedminster Township police and Chief Brian Lehman of Dublin Borough arrived in seconds. They could tell this baby was coming.

"I knew it was imminent immediately when the baby was crowning. This was definitely going to happen and the ambulance wasn't going to get here," Chief Lehman said.

"She had pushed at one point and the head then came out and then after a few minutes, then had pushed more, and the baby came out. I literally had to catch it," Officer Compton said.

"Officer Compton came out and he laid Jayce on her chest. He goes, 'Well, I guess this is a good time to introduce myself. My name is Bob. Congratulations.' So it was awesome," Matt said.

The Diaz family couldn't be more grateful.

"Very thankful," Jennifer said.

After Matt, Jennifer, and Jayce were safely in the ambulance on the way to the hospital, the officers went and got a cup of coffee together. They talked about what an incredible experience that had been and then went back on patrol.

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