Woman Delivers Baby Girl On Side Of NJ Turnpike In Monroe

MONROE TOWNSHIP, NJ — On the side of the New Jersey Turnpike. In the middle of a pandemic. There are probably more opportune places to deliver a baby.

But yet when nature comes knocking, it rarely waits. And that's exactly where Keericka Thomas of Memphis, Tennessee delivered her baby girl this past Saturday, safely and with the help of her husband and three New Jersey state troopers.

State Police were called to Interchange 8A off the Turnpike at 10:05 a.m. Saturday in Monroe Township, said police. They had received a 911 call about a woman who was nine months pregnant and was in active labor.

When they got to the scene the woman’s husband, Brandon Katron, a truck driver, had pulled over. They were not actually on the side of the Turnpike, but rather were off the main highway at the interchange/toll plaza, said State Police.

The man led them to the cab of his tractor where his wife was lying in a bunk preparing to give birth.

As one of the troopers entered the cab of the truck, Thomas told him that her baby was coming.

"Along with Monroe EMS and paramedics, the troopers and first responders helped deliver a beautiful baby girl within minutes of their arrival," said police in a Facebook post.

Troopers Pierre Noel and Marcin Ziobron retrieved towels and blankets to wrap the baby prior to taking her to an ambulance for evaluation.

However, shortly after giving birth, the mother became incoherent and lethargic due to a significant loss of blood during the delivery.

Mother and baby were rushed to Saint Peter’s University Hospital in New Brunswick, where the mother made a full recovery, said police. They were discharged from the hospital Monday.