Baby born on I-75 during rush hour, parents grateful for an officer who was driving by

HENRY COUNTY, Ga. - A very pregnant Joy Raines and her husband Darren were in a major hurry to get to the hospital. Their baby was in an even bigger hurry. 

It was Friday afternoon. Rush hour. The couple was in Henry County and they were trying to get to Kennestone Hospital in Marietta. 

"It's crazy traffic," said Darren Raines. 

They know they're never going to make it to Marietta in time.  At that moment they look over and see a DeKalb County Police Officer driving next to them and flag him down.

"I say 'hey it's my wife, she's pregnant and the baby is coming!'" said Darren.

As Darren is talking to the officer, Joy is alone in the car. Within a couple of minutes, baby Alex comes into the world. 

"My mind did drift to we're in the middle of traffic and everyone is going to see you giving birth, but then I just shut out the rest of the world, closed my eyes and pushed him out," said Joy.

The baby is healthy, Joy is doing well, and the DeKalb County Police Officer offers to escort them all the way to Kennestone Hospital. Mom and baby were checked out and were fine. 

Joy is a Labor and Delivery nurse so she has plenty of experience with other people's babies. Darren was in the Air Force. 

"She knew what she was doing, my military training did not prepare me for delivering babies on the side of the interstate. not at all," said Darren.

The Raineses are grateful for the police officer who they say was in the right place at the right time. 

"There was a lot of chaos.  For us to look to the right and see the officer who wasn't even in his jurisdiction and for him to willingly pull to the side and help us, it was just a blessing," said Joy. 

DeKalb County Police Officials released a statement saying "While the officer's actions did not conform with DeKalb County Police Department policy, the department is pleased that incident turned out favorably.  The police department recommends that citizens call 911 and wait for an ambulance to arrive so they can receive any necessary medical attention at the scene."