Detroit Woman Gives Birth On I-94

DETROIT (WWJ) - An expectant mother and her friend had to race the stork to a delivery room in Detroit.

It's the second baby for Wayne State University graduate student Rima Meroweh. She called her friend at 4:30 a.m., Tuesday, saying she was in labor.

Fifteen minutes later, as the two were on their way to Henry Ford Hospital on I-94 near I-96, Meroweh said the baby was coming. 

They pulled over and her friend called 9-1-1. With some help over the phone, that's when Meroweh gave birth in her small car.

Baby Nazen Hariri arrived just before 5 a.m.

"As soon as he was born she grabbed him and gave him to me, and he was breathing and he was crying, so I knew he was okay," Meroweh said.

EMS arrived shortly to take the pair to the hospital. 

Nazen's father is a Resident in training in New Jersey. When Meroweh called him to tell him what had happened, he said, "No, really. Where are you?"

Later, Tuesday, both mom and baby were doing just fine.