Polk Sheriff’s deputy delivers baby on US 27

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Polk County Sheriff’s Deputy Adam Pennell cradles newborn Isabella Fina Herrera while her mom looks on. Pennell delivered the baby when her family was stuck in traffic (Photo via Polk County Sheriff’s Office).

They call her a “Christmas miracle.”

A Polk County Sheriff’s deputy delivered a 6-pound, 4-ounce baby last week by the side of U.S. 27 in Lake Wales, according to a sheriff’s office Facebook post.

The family of newborn Isabella Fina Herrera got their plans crossed up, and the mother of the baby was stuck in traffic, miles from the hospital in Winter Haven where she hoped to give birth, the sheriff’s office wrote.

The mother began waving frantically out of the window of the car to get the attention of Deputy Adam Pennell, who was in a patrol car sitting at the same red light. She yelled out, pointing to her belly, “Labor! Labor!”

Pennell sprung into action, directing the family to pull over in a turn lane and positioning his cruiser to protect their car. He delivered the baby and called in EMS, who were able to remove the umbilical cord stuck around Isabella’s neck.

An ambulance finally took mother and daughter to the hospital, where doctors declared Isabella in “perfect health,” the sheriff’s office wrote.

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