Johnson County deputy helps woman in roadside birth

The Johnson County Sheriff's Office says deputies helped a woman this week who gave birth in a vehicle and then her baby when it was having trouble breathing.

The child and the mother - who were not identified - are doing fine at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, the sheriff's office said Friday.

Deputies were called to help the woman at about 12:30 a.m. Wednesday in the area of Highway 1 and 520th St. SW, between Kalona and Iowa City.

The baby arrived before deputies arrived. But within minutes of the delivery, Deputy Doran Williams noticed the infant was not breathing properly. He took action to help the child breathe, the sheriff's office said.

The sheriff's office on Friday released a picture of the baby with a 'junior deputy” badge on its blanket.

l Comments: (319) 398-8238; kat.russell@thegazette.com