(Update! 11:18-a.m.)

A child scheduled to be born at Mercy Hospital in Council Bluffs couldn’t wait to see the world, and was instead delivered on an westbound Interstate off-ramp, near Marne, in Cass County. Cass County Chief Deputy Sheriff John Westering told KJAN News the baby made its appearance a little after 7-a.m. today [Tuesday] at Exit 51 off of I-80. The healthy, 8-pound 11-ounce baby girl was born to Chris and Erica Bengel, who named their daughter Brinley Nicole. The couple have lived in Atlantic for most of their lives.

Chris and Erica Bengel. (Photo from the Around Atlantic Facebook page)

Westering says by the time law enforcement arrived on the scene, the baby was already out and being taken care by the mother and father. Emergency responders provided the mother and baby with blankets before they were transported to the hospital in Atlantic.

Westering said Chris was understandably a bit jittery afterward, but both new parents handled the situation well.

While emergency personnel on the way to the scene, the Cass County Communications Center provided updates from the couple with regard to the baby’s progress. Cass County 911 Coordinator Rob Koppert gives a special shout out to the 911 dispatchers at Shelby County 911 in Harlan.

Koppert says the original 911 call was routed to Shelby County instead of Cass County (which frequently happens in that coverage area) and Shelby County dispatchers were able to provide delivery instructions to the family and relay updated information to Cass County 911 for the responders.

An Iowa State Patrol Trooper in the area was first on the scene, followed by an Iowa DOT employee, Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies, other emergency personnel, and an ambulance.