Doula stuck in Golden Gate Park traffic recounts helping deliver roadside baby: 'The best of SF'

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- A baby girl was born on the side of the road in Golden Gate Park over the weekend after her parents became stuck in heavy traffic while trying to reach a hospital, an incident that is also raising concerns about emergency access in the area.

The birth happened on Crossover Drive near Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, where traffic can become severely congested, especially on weekends. According to witnesses and emergency dispatch audio, the parents, Nate and Karollyn, were caught in a backup while trying to get to the hospital when labor progressed faster than expected.

Katie Higgins, who trained as a doula 13 years ago, happened to be on her way to her third grader's soccer game Saturday. Despite saying traffic had come to a complete standstill, she was in the right place at the right time.

"Traffic was just completely stopped. Like cars were turned off," Higgins said.

Higgins said someone moved through the line of vehicles looking for medical assistance.

MORE: Mom delivers baby girl on side of road during heavy Golden Gate Park traffic

"He was like, someone's in labor. And my wife looked at me with big eyes and was like, you can do this. Go help," Higgins said.

Higgins went to assist the mother.

"We talked together and, you know, helped her through the pushing. And the baby was born," she said.

The newborn, Cielle Ray, was delivered before emergency crews could reach the scene.

Dispatch audio described the call as a "CODE 3 imminent delivery" at Crossover Drive and Martin Luther King Drive. Another dispatch transmission directed responders to a gray Honda Civic coupe that had pulled off onto a dirt path with its hazard lights on.

Emergency responders also faced challenges reaching the family because of the traffic congestion. Paramedics ultimately left their ambulance behind and continued on foot, according to Higgins.

"The ambulance arrived on foot, because they couldn't get through," Higgins said.

Neighbors said the incident highlighted concerns about access to emergency services in the area.

"That's actually pretty scary and unfortunate because you would always want to think that there's like, a path to get to any hospital in this neighborhood," said Orie Kalu, who lives nearby.

Crossover Drive is one of only two routes through Golden Gate Park and is typically slow-moving, particularly on weekends.

Supervisor Alan Wong said the incident underscores broader traffic issues in and around the park.

"This also speaks to a lot of the traffic congestion issues that we have to face," Wong said.

Wong said he is open to examining potential traffic changes near the park and wants the city to continue looking for ways to reduce congestion.

"I want to make sure that we're continuing to look at opportunities to reduce congestion and ensure that people are able to get to where they need to go," Wong said.

Despite the traffic delays, residents said the response from bystanders and emergency personnel reflected the city's willingness to help when needed.

"It was the best of San Francisco," Higgins said.