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NC woman in labor dies in crash on way to hospital

Posted at 12:45 PM, Sep 04, 2012
and last updated 2012-09-04 12:45:19-04

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ALAMANCE COUNTY, N.C. (WGHP) — A woman was killed in a wreck Sunday night when she was being driven to the hospital to deliver her baby.

According to Trooper J.R. Zachary with the N.C. Highway Patrol, Brian and Megan Riggans, both 22 and of Staley, were in the 2800 block of Greensboro-Chapel Hill Road shortly before 10 p.m. when their car hydroplaned, went off the side of the road and struck a tree.

Zachary told WGHP-TV’s Brandon Jones that the couple was on their way to UNC Chapel Hill Hospital because Megan Riggans was in labor.

Zachary said Megan Riggans, who wasn’t wearing a seatbelt, was unconscious when rescuers arrived.  She was taken to Alamance Regional Medical Center, where doctors delivered her baby boy. 

Megan Riggans was later pronounced dead, but the infant was still breathing and had a pulse, Zachary said.  The baby was transferred to UNC Hospital.  His condition as of Tuesday morning was not clear.

Brian Riggans, whose face and back were injured, was taken to UNC Hospital from the scene of the crash.

The wreck occurred in a rural area in southern Alamance County where severe thunderstorms dropped heavy rain throughout the evening.