De Leon with the family – Photo Illinois State Police
CHICAGO – What began as a late night traffic stop on Sunday turned into an unlikely situation of a mother giving birth along I-57. The Illinois State Police say they were in the middle of a traffic stop when another vehicle, driven by Roland Watkins, pulled up to the scene asking for assistance for his sister, Stacey Watkins. Trooper Edgar Valdez De Leon and Trooper Michael Vodicka rushed to the aid of the woman in active labor and ten minutes later Carter Lee Smothers (7 pounds 5 ounces) was born. Mother and baby were transported to a local area hospital by ambulance.
“I never thought I would get the opportunity to deliver a baby on the side of the road so early in my career with the Illinois State Police,” stated Trooper Valdez
De Leon. “It was a highly stressful situation, but because of the First Responder training I received at the Illinois StatePolice Academy, I was confident enough to use the training I received and put it to good use.”
Trooper Valdez De Leon is a one year veteran with the Illinois State Police. Trooper Valdez De Leon is a current Sergeant in the United States Army Reserves. He is also 16-year veteran of the United States Army and United States Marine Corps. Trooper Vodicka is an 8 1/2 year veteran with the Illinois State Police.
