FORT DODGE, Iowa — A man says he admits to going 30 mph over the speed limit as he zoomed past police early Tuesday morning, according to WHO. But he has a good reason — his wife was telling him not to stop.
Police started chasing the couple’s SUV on Highway 7 near the town of Manson. Officers finally caught up to the SUV after throwing out spikes and popping the tires. That’s when the couple was ordered out of their vehicle and reportedly held them at gunpoint.
Officers then realized why the pair were in such a desperate rush.
Ben Kohnen said he was on his way to the hospital around 4 a.m. because his wife, Rachel, was in labor with their fourth child.
Kohnen admits that he was going about 30 mph over the speed limit when they passed the officer, but he said that his wife told him the baby was coming and not to stop.
“I did tell him not to stop,” Rachel Kohnen admitted. “I think I was screaming, ‘Oh dear God, we can’t have the baby in the car.’”
The couple said they tried to call 911, but the dispatcher couldn’t understand Rachel in between her contractions.
“I know I was crazy lady screaming it into the phone,” said Rachel.
After police realized it was a real emergency, the mother was rushed to the hospital where she delivered, Hazel, a healthy baby girl, who is doing “really well.”
Manson Police Chief Tom Ritts said that no charges have been filed. However, he said that it will be up to the county attorney to decide if that remains the case.
