A remarkable event unfolded on the highway last week.
A woman, Kristen Fast, delivered her baby boy on the New Jersey Turnpike, with her husband, a state trooper, and a cell phone charger by her side. This unexpected delivery happened about four days ahead of schedule, on July 2nd, as they were trying to reach the hospital in Secaucus, according to reports.
“My doula told us to pull over, turn off the phone, and call 911,” Kristen recounted. So, they followed that advice and called for help. The operator guided them through the situation.
Meanwhile, Alex Fast, Kristen’s husband, described how frantic things got: “I found myself in the back seat, trying to make sure the baby was comfortable, only to realize, well, he was coming out!”
New Jersey State Trooper Freddy Guacamaya responded to their emergency call. With an unconventional tool—a charging cord from an iPhone—Kristen was able to deliver a healthy baby boy.
Kristen remembered her initial response to Guacamaya: “I asked if he was an EMT, and he didn’t respond, so I thought maybe I was in trouble. But he remained calm throughout.”
As the moments unfolded, the couple was advised to clamp the umbilical cord, but they didn’t have anything suitable—except the phone charger they had on hand.
Feeling a surge of panic, Alex spotted the iPhone cable and quickly clamped the cord with it. “When the paramedics showed up, they were a bit surprised to see that,” he shared.
Three police officers arrived to help, ensuring Kristen, Alex, and newborn Archer were safely taken to Hackensack University Medical Center.
The officers were quite supportive. “They drove us to the hospital, which was a relief. Plus, they took care of everything else we needed,” the couple expressed joyfully.
Archer’s birthplace was recorded accurately at Mile Marker 113 on the New Jersey Turnpike.
Kristen warmly stated, “Archer is doing well. He’s definitely a Jersey boy.” She added, “Honestly, I can’t think of a more ‘Jersey’ way to come into the world than on the New Jersey Turnpike.”
